m 


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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


GENERAL  HISTORY 


OF  THE  STATE  OF 


MICHIGAN; 


WITH 


BIOGKAPEICAL  SKETCHES, 
PORTRAIT    ENGRAVINGS, 


AND    NUMEROUS 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A  COMPLETE  HISTORY  OF  THE  PENINSULAR  STATE  FROM  ITS 
EARLIEST  SETTLEMENT  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


COMPILED  BY 

CHARLES   RICHARD '  TtTTTLE. 


DETROIT: 
R.  D.  S.  TYLER  &  CO.,  66  GRISWOLD  STREET. 

PRINTED  BY  THE  DETROIT  FREE  PRESS  COMPANY. 
1873. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1873, 

BY  CHARLES  RICHARD  TUTTLE, 
In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


fstt 


TO 

THE   MEN    OF    MICHIGAN, 

WHO, 

PROM    HUMBLE    BEGINNINGS, 

BY  TIMELY  PERSEVERANCE   AND  WELL  DIRECTED 

ENTERPRISE,    HAVE    WON    WEALTH    FOR 

THEMSELVES  OR  FAME  FOR  THE 

PENINSULAR    STATE, 

THIS     VOLUME 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED. 


PREFACE. 

SOME  one  has  very  properly  written  that  the  country  is  already 
overloaded  with  histories  of  itself;  and  the  same  writer  as  properly 
adds  :  "  Not  one  of  them  pretends  to  constitute  a  general  history 
of  the  United  States  in  volumes,  embracing  a  complete  history  of 
each  State  separately — a  work  that  would  be  of  incalculable  value 
to  the  archives  of  every  Commonwealth  of  the  American  Repub 
lic."  It  has  been  offered  in  reply  to  this,  that  "  the  early  history 
of  the  United  States  is  so  consolidated  and  intermingled  as  not  to 
admit  of  being  divided  into  volumes  that  would  adapt  themselves 
respectively  to  each  State."  The  last  argument  holds  good  only 
in  so  far  as  the  task  of  compiling  such  a  work  is  a  difficult  one, 
involving  much  labor  that  can  scarcely  hope  for  just  compensa 
tion. 

The  work  presented  in  this  volume  is  threefold  in  its  character, 
embracing  a  general  history  of  Michigan,  from  its  earliest  settlement 
to  the  present  time  (unincumbered  by  the  records  of  a  neighboring 
Commonwealth),  including  illustrations  and  brief  descriptive 
sketches  of  the  most  prominent  features  of  the  Peninsular  State, 
with  portraits  and  short  biographical  sketches  rf  its  present  leading 
business  and  professional  men. 

With  regard  to  the  first  and  most  important  feature,  it  is  proper 
to  state  that  the  works  which  the  author  has  consulted  freely,  and 
to  which  the  perfection  of  this  book  is  most  indebted,  are  Lan- 
man's  History  of  Michigan,  Sheldon's  Early  History  of  Michigan, 
Bancroft's  History  of  the  United  States,  Parkman's  Conspiracy  of 
Pontiac,  Lanman's  Red  Book  of  Michigan,  Tackabury's  New 
Atlas  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  Way's  History  of  the  Boundary 
Difficulty,  and  numerous  other  volumes.  The  great  aim  has  been 
to  condense  from  these  works,  and  from  more  recent  records,  a 
plain  and  truthful  history  of  the  State  from  its,  earliest  settlement 
to  the  present  time. 


Vlll  PREFACE. 

In  the  second  and  third  features,  the  aim  has  been  to  depict,  by 
descriptive  sketches  and  engravings,  the  more  prominent  modern 
features  of  the  State,  and  to  present  the  portraits  with  brief  bio 
graphical  sketches  of  some  of  its  leading  citizens.  In  doing  the 
latter,  care  has  been  taken  to  select  representative  men  in  all  the 
departments  of  trade,  and  in  the  learned  professions,  without 
regard  to  the  accident  of  political  prominence.  The  latter  con 
sideration  has  not,  of  course,  been  ignored  in  making  the  selection, 
but  preference  has  been  given  to  those  who  have,  by  unaided 
industry  and  native  force  of  character,  placed  themselves  in 
prominent  and  leading  positions  in  their  chosen  field  of  labor. 

The  labor  of  compiling  this  volume  has  been  immense,  and  not 
always  pleasant.  The  object  has  been  to  furnish  to  the  citizens  of 
the  State  a  more  complete  history  of  the  Commonwealth  than  has 
yet  been  written  ;  and  at  the  same  time  to  give  to  the  world,  in  a 
condensed  and  popular  form,  reliable  information  in  regard  to  the 
resources  of  a  State  now  truly  imperial  in  wealth,  population  and 
power.  How  well  this  task  has  been  performed  we  leave  to  the 
judgment  of  an  indulgent  and  discriminating  public. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  portrait  engravings  in  this  volume 
are  inserted  without  reference  to  chronological  order.  This  became 
necessary  for  the  reason  that  printing  was  commenced  before  the 
engravings  were  finished.  The  only  order  observed  is  that  in 
which  the  engravings  reached  the  hands  of  the  printer. 

In  conclusion,  the  publishers  desire  to  express  their  gratitude  to 
the  Detroit  Free  Press  Company  and  its  employes,  for  the  faithful 
ness  and  painstaking  care  with  which  they  have  carried  the 
mechanical  part  of  the  work  forward  to  completion.  The  intelli 
gence  and  skill  displayed  in  this  part  of  the  work  is  patent  to 
every  reader,  and  is  in  itself  an  illustration  of  the  enterprise 
which  is  characteristic  of  the  men  of  Michigan,  as  well  as  of  the 
magnitude  and  excellence  of  the  oldest  printing  house  in  the 
Peninsular  State. 

DETROIT,  December,  1873. 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MISCELLANEOUS. 

New  State  Capitol  (Frontispiece). 

The  Indian  Council  at  St.  Mary's  Falls  (1671) 89 

La  Salle  in  the  Griffin 107 

Death  of  La  Salle 107 

Old  Fort  Michilimackinac 191 

Unveiling  of  the  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac 249 

Fort  Pontchartrain  (Detroit)  in  1705 273 

The  First  Churches  Built  in  Michigan 355 

Hon.  T.  J.  Campau's  Residence 373 

Pear  Trees  in  the  Old  Jesuit  Garden 399 

Residence  of  Isaac  NewtorifeSwain 409 

Country  Residence  of  W.  W.  Backus 445 

Burt's  Solar  Compass 517 

Burt's  Surveying  Company  (with  Marquette  in  the  distance) 521 

Michigan  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Monument 541 

Residence  of  James  Nail,  jr 591 

University  of  Miphigan 603 

Agricultural  College,  Lansing,  Michigan 611 

Map  of  Straits  of  Mackinaw 615 

Michigan  Female  Seminary 627 

Detroit  Homeopathic  College 631 

Goldsmith's  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  College 635 

Steamer  W.  L.  Wetmore 651 

Saugatuck  Union  School 669 

Residence  of  M.  Jacques  Campau 677 

The  Joseph  Campau  Residence 687 

View  of  the  City  of  Grand  Rapids 691 

View  of  the  City  of  Adrian 699 

View  of  the  City  of  Detroit 705 

Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Detroit 707 

City  Hall,  Detroit 709 

View  of  Fort  Street,  Detroit 711 

View  of  the  City  of  Flint 719 


X  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PORTRAITS. 

Hon.  Lewis  Cass 21 

Lieutenant-Governor  Andrew  Parsons 41 

Governor  John  J.  Bagley 61 

Governor  H.  P.  Baldwin 65 

Hon.  Frederick  L.  Wells 69 

Hon.  Elihu  L.  Clark 73 

Henry  Fish 77 

Colonel  Wm.  M.  Fenton 83 

Hon.  Martin  S.  Brackett 91 

Hon.  Timothy  Jerome 95 

Thomas  P.  Sheldon 99 

Hon.  Jonathan  B.  Tuttle 103 

General  Joseph  O.  Hudnut 113 

Hon.  J.  W.  Begole 117 

Hon.  James  Watson 123 

Hon.  Peter  Desnoyers 125 

Captain  John  Clarke 129 

Hon.  JolmR.  Kellogg 135 

Hon.  Charles  W.  Grant 141 

Professor  Duane  Doty 145 

Hon.  J.  G.  Sutherland 149 

Hon.  John  K  Mellen 153 

E.  B.  Ward , 157 

Hon.  Charles  M.  Garrison 161  ^ 

Hon.  Lysander  Woodward 167 

Hon.  Peter  C.  Andre '. 169 

Hon.  Charles  S.  May 173 

Hon.  B.  W.  Huston 177 

Ray  Haddock 183 

Hon.  George  H.  Durand 185 

F.  G.  Russell 193 

Hon.  A.  F.  R.  Braley 197 

Dr.  Edward  W.  Jenks 201 

Hon.  Samuel  D.  Pace 205 

Hon.  John  Moore 209 

E.  T.  Judd 213 

Dr.  J.  B.  White 217 

Hon.  Eleazer  Jewett 221 

R.  W.  Jenny 225 

General  Mark  Flanigan 231 

J.  M.  Stanley 235 

James  Shearer 241 

Lorenzo  B.  Curtis 245 

Right  Reverend  Samuel  A.  McCoskry 253 

Hon.  S.  M.  Green 257 

Hon.  Moses  B.  Hess  . .  .265 


ILLUSTRATIONS.  XI 

Hon.  James  Birney , 269 

M.  S.  Smith 277 

Hon.  James  Turrill 283 

Ezra  Rust 285 

David  Preston 289 

Hon.  Bela  W.  Jenks 293 

E.G.  Haven,  D.D.,  LL.D.. 297 

Hon.  John  F.  Driggs 305 

Rev.  J.  M.  Arnold 309 

Hon.  R.  P.  Eldredge 313 

Hon.  W.  L.  Webber 321 

Chester  B.  Jones 325 

Hon.  James  F.  Joy 33l 

Hon.  Albert  Miller 337 

A.  W.  Wright 341 

Hon.  L.  B.  Parker 345 

Hon.  G.  D.  Williams 349 

Colonel  Wm.  L.  P.  Little 357 

Bradford  Smith 361 

Spencer  Barclay 367 

Hon.  T.  J.  Campau 369 

Hon.  Alfred  Russell 379 

Dr.  J.  W.  Kermott 381 

Hon.  Zachariah  Chandler 385 

Charles  H.  Borgman 389 

Hon.  A.  B.  Turner 395 

Isaac  Newton  Swain 403 

Aaron  Dikeman 413 

Major  Lowell  Hall 417 

James  Scribner 421 

Hon.  R.  McClelland 425 

M.  V.  Borgman 437 

John  P.  Allison 443 

Hon.  George  V.  K  Lothrop 449 

Hon.  R.  A.  Haire 459 

E.  H.  Turner 461 

Hon.  K  B.  Eldredge 465 

Captain  J.  F.  Marsac 469 

Hon.  George  W.  Swift 473 

Sandf ord  Howard 481 

Hon.  D.  Horton 485 

Hon.  George  E.  Hubbard 489 

Rev.  Marcus  Swift 497 

Dr.  G.  L.  Cornell 505 

Colin  Campbell 509 

Hon.  Wm.  A.  Burt 513 

Horace  R.  Gardner    .  525 


Xll  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Hon.  Thomas  W.  Ferry 529 

Myron  Butman 537 

Hon.  Thomas  H.  Bottomley 539 

Hon.  John  Ball 545 

Hon.  Jay  A.  Hubbell 549 

General  J.  G.  Parkhurst 553 

Smith  R.  Woolley 559 

Hon.  A.  N.  Hart 561 

Dr.  L.  Younghusband 565 

Hon.  E.  S.  Eggleston 569 

Professor  David  Parsons 573 

General  A.  T.  McReynolds    577 

D.  M.  Ferry 583 

Hon.  Ira  Mayhew 585 

James  Nail,  jr 589 

James  W.  Frisbie 593 

J.  H.  Goldsmith ' 597 

Hon.  C.  C.  Comstock 601 

Hon.  Jonathan  Shearer 605 

Okemos 609 

Edgar  Conkling 613 

Hon.  John  S.  Barry 617 

Hon.  Moses  Wisner 621 

Hon.  E.  Ransom 625 

Hon.  Win.  Woodbridge 629 

Hon.  O.  D.  Conger 633 

Hon.  Israel  V.  Harris 641 

Hon.  David  H.  Jerome 645 

Hon.  George  Willard 649 

Hon  O.  M  Barnes 653 

Hon.  A.  C.  Baldwin 659 

Hon.  Charles  Rynd,  M.  D 661 

Hon.  Henry  H.  Crapo 665 

Hon.  Joseph  Campau 679 

Hon.  H.  M.  Look 693 

Hon.  J  W.  Gordon 701 

Hon.  Wm.  L.  Greenly 703 

Hon.  Wm.  C.  Duncan 713 

Hon.  Wm.  W.  Wheaton 716 

Hon.  Alexander  H.  Morrison 722 

Hon.  John  S.  Homer 725 

Hon.  Alpheus  Felch 737 

Hon.  Kinsley  S.  Bingham 729 

Hon.  Stevens  T.  Mason .  731 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

France  moves  to  establish  a  colony  in  America— Cartier  proceeds  to  Canada— 
His  second  voyage  —  Rpberval^s  expedition  — Other  French  expeditions— 
Champlain's  first  expedition  to  the  St.  Lawrence— He  forms  a  settlement  at 
Quebec 17 

CHAPTER  II. 

Champlain  and  his  infant  colony— A  pleasant  winter  in  the  new  fort— Condition 
of  Indian  afl'airs  -The  natives— New  France  ceded  to  England  in  1629— 
Champlain  returns  to  France 29 

CHAPTER  III. 

History  of  New  France  from  the  war  with  the  English  in  1629  to  that  of  1689— 
The  French  and  the  Iroquois— Colonial  history— The  government  of  Fronte- 
nac— Defeat  of  the  English 38 

CHAPTER  IV. 

History  of  New  France  from  the  administration  of  Frontenac  to  its  overthrow 
by  the  English,  at  Quebec,  in  1759— The  battle  of  Quebec- The  fall  of  Wolfe 
and  Montcalm— Canada  ceded  to  the  English 58 

CHAPTER  V. 

Progress  of  the  French  toward  Michigan— The  struggles  and  adventures  of  the 
missionaries— Life  and  death  of  the  great  and  good  Marquette— Pioneer  life,  81 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Robert  de  la  Salle— First  vessel  on  Lake  Erie— Loss  of  the  Griffin— Unfortunate 
expedition  in  search  of  the  Mississippi— Mutinous  conduct  of  LaSalle's 
men— Death  of  LaSalle— His  character— Fate  of  his  companions 102 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Sault  Ste.  Marie— Fort  St.  Joseph— Detroit  founded— Its  early  condition- 
Attacked  by  the  Ottawas— By  the  Foxes— Early  French  travelers  through 
the  lake  region 112 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Colonial  emigrants— Merchants— The  peasantry— French  soldiers— Legal  admin 
istration — Policy  of  the  French  government— Mode  of  land  distribution 122 

CHAPTER  IX. 

War  between  the  French  and  English  colonies— Braddock's  march — His  defeat — 
Acadia,  Niagara  and  Crown  Point- Battle  of  Lake  George— Condition  of 
Canada 139 

CHAPTER  X. 

The  English  take  possession  of  the  western  outposts  of  Canada— March  of 
Major  Rogers  and  the  Provincial  Rangers — Appearance  of  Pontiac— Surren 
der  of  Detroit  and  Michilimackinac  to  the  English — End  of  French  rule  in 
Michigan 165 

CHAPTER  XL 

Hostility  between  the  northern  Indians  and  the  English— Experience  of  the 
first  English  traders  who  visited  Michilimackinac— Their  persecutions— The 
English  soldiers  take  possession  of  Michilimackinac 172 


XIV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Hostility  between  the  Indians  and  the  English  — Its  cause  explained  —  The 
Indians  rising  to  drive  the  English  from  the  country — Pontiac's  message  — 
The  council  and  speech  in  which  the  conspiracy  is  matured— The  war 189 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Michilunackinac  —  Description  of  the  place  in  1762  —  Assembling  of  hostile 
Indians  around  Michilimackinac— Adventures  of  an  English  trader— The 
Indians  preparing  for  the  massacre— The  game  of  ball  commenced 200 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  massacre  at  Fort  Michilimackinac— Indians  drinking  the  blood  of  English 
men—Sufferings  of  English  prisoners— The  Ottawas  espouse  the  cause  of  the 
English  and  take  possession  of  the  fort— The  Indian  council 215 

CHAPTER  XV. 

The  English  persecuted  at  Michilimackinac  after  the  massacre— The  adventure 
of  Henry— Prisoners  divided  between  the  Chippewas  and  the  Ottawas— Lieu 
tenant  Gorell  rescues  the  prisoners  from  the  Ottawas,  and  the  English  leave 
the  country — Escape  of  Henry 229 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  continued— The  plot  to  destroy  the  garrison  of  Detroit 
discovered— Pontiac  commences  the  siege— Captain  Campbell's  captivity— 
Pontiac  demands  the  surrender  of  the  fort 248 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  continued— A  council  among  the  officers  of  the  fort  of 
Detroit— Gladwyn  determines  to  hold  put— Difficulty  between  Pontiac  and 
the  French— Fate  of  Cuyler's  expedition — The  horrors  of  Indian  warfare 
thickening  around  Detroit 264 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac.  continued— Fate  of  the  forest  garrison— The  massacre  at 
Fort  St.  Joseph— The  fate  of  Sandusky,  Miami,  Ouatanon,  Presque  Isle,  Le 
Boeuf  and  Venango— The  reign  of  blood  and  havoc— The  bloody  work  of  the 
great  Pontiac  and  his  treacherous  followers 276 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  continued— The  siege  of  Detroit— Adventure  of  a  British 
schooner  on  the  Detroit  river— Mode  of  Indian  warfare— Pontiac  inviting  the 
French  to  join  his  army— Another  council— Exchange  of  prisoners 282 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  continued— The  battle  of  Bloody  Run— Captain  Dalzell's 
detachment  slaughtered  by  the  savages— Adventure  of  the  schooner  Glad 
wyn— The  Indians  sue  for  peace— Approach  of  winter 296 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Conclusion  of  Pontiac's  war— The  siege  of  Detroit  raised— Bradstreet  in  the 
west— The  English  at  peace— The  Revolutionary  War— Instigating  savages 
to  take  American  scalps— Captain  Byrd's  expedition— Hamilton's  expedition 
— His  capture — DePeyster  commands  at  Detroit — American  liberty  trium 
phant — Peace  restored 312 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  retention  of  the  western  posts  by  Great  Britain  after  the  treaty  of  1783— 
Northwestern  Territory  organized— Indian  troubles  again— The  great  war 
council  at  Detroit  —  Campaign  of  General  Harmer  — St.  Clair's  defeat- 
Wayne's  victories— Michigan  surrendered  to  the  United  States 324 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

William  Hull  appointed  governor  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan— Tecumseh's 
warriors  assembling— An  army  raised  in  Ohio— It  marches  to  Detroit  under 
General  Hull— War  declared  between  England  and  the  United  States— Hull 
advances  into  Canada 330 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Michilimackinac— Removal  of  the  fort  to  Mackinaw  island — Condition  of  the 
fort  and  settlement  in  1812— Captain  Roberts'  expedition  captures  the  fort— 
The  garrison  sent  to  Detroit— The  English  once  more  in  possession  of  Mack 
inaw 344 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

General  Hull's  cowardice — He  evacuates  Canada— Alleged  treason — A  detach 
ment  sent  to  meet  Colonel  Brush— The  fort  surrendered  to  the  British- 
Indignation  of  the  army— Colonel  Brush  escapes— Detroit  again  under  the 
British  flag * 363 

CHAPTER  XXVI- 

The  British  celebrating  their  success  at  Detroit— Account  of  General  Brock's 
expedition  against  Detroit— Scenes  and  circumstances  in  and  about  Detroit 
after  the  surrender— The  massacre  at  Chicago— Commodore  Perry  on  Lake 
Erie— Harrison's  campaign— Recapture  of  the  western  posts,  including 
Detroit,  by  the  United  States 365 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Mackinaw— Expedition  under  Commodore  Sinclair  and  Colonel  Croghan  for  its 
reduction— Colonel  Turner  captures  the  Perseverance  at  St.  Mary's  and 
reduces  that  post— Capture  of  the  Mink— Destruction  of  goods  belonging  to 
the  Northwest  Company— Landing  of  the  forces  at  Mackinaw — Fall  of  Major 
Holmes— Defeat  of  the  Americans  -Full  account  of  the  battle,  etc 377 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

The  ordinance  of  1787— Erection  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan— Its  boundary- 
Judicial  administration— The  Woodward  code  of  laws— Governor  Hull— His 
trial  by  court-martial 394 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

General  Cass  appointed  governor— Defenseless  condition  of  the  Territory — 
Indian  depredations  around  Detroit— Bravery  and  energy  of  General  Cass— 
His  treaty  with  the  Indians— Condition  of  Michigan  at  the  close  of  the  war 
— Expedition  of  General  Cass  to  the  Upper  Peninsiila — Discoveries— Pros 
perity  of  the  Territory  under  Cass'  administration— The  treaty  of  Chicago- 
Execution  of  Indians 402 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

The  administration  of  Governor  Porter— The  Black  Hawk  war— Construction 
of  roads— The  lirst  railroad  company  organized— Banks  chartered— Common 
Schools  organized— Change  in  the  method  of  disposing  of  public  lands — 
Death  of  Governor  Porter 441 

CHAPTER.  XXXI. 

The  organization  of  a  State  government— The  boundary  question — The  Toledo 
war— Incidents  and  accidents— Settlement  of  the  question— Admission  of 
Michigan  into  the  Union 448 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Michigan  as  a  State— Resources  and  population— Administration  of  Governor 
Mason — Woodbridge  —  Gordon  —  Barry — Felch— Greenly— Ransom— Barry — 
McClelland  -Biugham— Wisner , 480 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Administration  of  Governor  Blair— The  war  of  the  rebellion— Patriotic  action 
of  Michigan— The  troops  sent  to  the  field— The  draft — Governor  Crapo's 
administration— Close  of  the  war— The  troops  return  home— Financial  con 
dition  of  the  State 494 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Governor  Henry  P.  Baldwin's  administration— S.teady  growth  of  the  State — 
Constitutional  amendment— Governor  Bald'win's  re-election— The  State  Cap 
itol—The  great  and  destructive  fires  in  Michigan — The  Soldiers'  and  Sailors' 
Monument— Administration  of  Governor  Bagley 536 


Xvi  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 
Present  condition  of  Michigan  railroads 544 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

Mineral  and  forest  wealth  of  Michigan— Iron— Copper— Salt— Gypsum— Coal— 
Other  minerals— Lumber 572 

CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

Education  in  Michigan— The  common  school  system— The  University— Agricul 
tural  College— State  Normal  School— Albion  College— Adrian  College— Kala- 
mazoo  College- Hillsdale  College— Olivet  College— State  Reform  School- 
State  Public  School— Asylum  for  the  Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind— Michigan 
Female  Seminary — Detroit  Medical  College— Detroit  Homeopathic  College- 
Goldsmith's  Bryant  &  Stratton  Business  University— Mayhew's  Business 
College 596 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 
Agriculture— Manufactures— Commerce 640 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

Mineral  Springs  of  Michigan — Their  discovery — Analyses  of  the  waters— The 
location  of  each— The  St.  Louis  Spring— Alpena—  Midland— Eaton  Rapids- 
Spring  Lake— Lansing — Fruitport— Butterworth's — Owosso — Hubbardston  — 
Leslie— Mount  Clemens 658 

Governors  and  officers  of  Michigan 671 

Population  of  Michigan 674 

Sketch  of  Grand  Rapids 689 

Sketch  of  Adrian 698 

Sketch  of  Detroit 706 

Sketch  of  Flint 718 


THE  HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


CHAPTER  I. 


FRANCE  MOVES  TO  ESTABLISH  A  COLONY  IN  AMERICA  —  CARTIER  PRO 
CEEDS  TO  CANADA — His  SECOND  VOYAGE — ROBERVAL'S  EXPEDITION 
—OTHER  FRENCH  EXPEDITIONS  —  CHAMPLAIN'S  FIRST  EXPEDITION 
TO  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE— HE  FORMS  A  SETTLEMENT  AT  QUEBEC. 

OTHER  VOLUMES  of  this  work,  treating  of  other  States,  give  a 
complete  narrative  of  the  efforts  of  England  and  Spain  to  colonize 
the  New  World.  Hence,  in  this  place,  it  is  sufficient  to  trace  only 
the  movements  of  France,  in  her  unfortunate  struggle  to  plant  a 
permanent  branch  of  empire  in  America.  This  is  the  more  expe 
dient  since  only  the  name  of  the  latter  is  associated  with  the  first 
settlement  of  Michigan. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century  the  discoveries  of 
Christopher  Columbus  and  Sebastian  Cabot  were  creating  consid 
erable  excitement  in  France,  and  Francis  I  granted  a  commission 
to  Jacques  Cartier,  of  St.  Malo,  authorizing  him  to  prosecute  dis 
coveries  in  the  far  West.  Carder's  outfit  for  this  expedition  con 
sisted  of  two  ships,  of  sixty  tons  burden  each,  and  a  crew  of  sixty- 
one  efficient  men.  He  set  sail  for  America  from  St.  Malo  on  the 
20th  of  April,  1534. 

This  was  by  no  means  the  first  western  movement  of  civilization. 
The  Spaniards  already  occupied  Florida;  the  English  had  taken 
possession  of  the  middle  portion  of  the  continent,  and  the  north 
ern  regions  alone  remained  for  the  French.  To  the  latter  point 
the  brave  commander  directed  his  little  fleet.  He>  made  a  safe 
voyage,  and  after  exploring  the  northern  coast  of  Newfoundland, 
he  returned  to  France,  reaching  St.  Malo  on  the  loth  of  Septem 
ber,  1534. 


18  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    STATES. 

He  gave  a  very  favorable  account  of  the  new  country  to  the 
French  court,  which  was  well  received ;  but  subsequent  develop 
ments  proved  that  he  had  done  little  more  than  land  on  the  north 
western  banks  of  Newfoundland.  Fearing  the  consequences  of 
the  autumnal  storms  upon  his  ships,  he  remained  but  a  few  weeks. 
Nevertheless  he  had  seen  enough  to  persuade  the  belief  that  a 
fruitful  country  lay  beyond,  in  the  direction  of  Michigan  and  the 
surrounding  States. 

Immediately  after  Cartier's  return  to  France  preparations  began 
for  a  second  expedition.  Three  vessels  were  fitted  out  with  a  view 
to  a  more  extended  voyage.  They  were  the  Great  Herminia,  of 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons ;  the  Little  Herminia,  of  sixty 
tons,  and  the  Hermirillou,  of  forty  tons.  The  first  named  was 
the  flag' ship. 

The  fleet  set  sail  on  the  15th  of  May,  1535.  This  was  a  very 
important  day  at  St.  Malo.  Every  adventurer  about  to  sail  for 
the  New  World  was  an  object  of  much  interest  to  the  inhabitants, 
and  not  a  little  pains  were  taken  to  celebrate  their  departure.  In 
the  hour  of  separation  from  kindred  and  country,  the  priests  of 
their  religion  had  sought  to  propagate  their  future  comfort  and 
support  by  preparing  a  gorgeous  pageant.  The  officers  and  crews 
of  the  whole  squadron  confessed,  and  received  the  sacrament. 
Afterwards  they  presented  themselves  before  the  altar  in  the  great 
cathedral  at  St.  Malo,  where  the  bishop,  arrayed  in  sacerdotal 
robes  of  rare  magnificence,  bestowed  on  them  his  benediction. 

An  account  of  the  voyage,  which  was  many  years  after  pub 
lished  in  a  French  journal,  states  that  it  was  very  tempestuous. 
Many  of  the  crew  suffered  unnumbered  hardships,  but  after  many 
days  of  toil  and  discontent,  the  eastern  banks  of  Newfoundland 
again  appeared  to  the  eye  of  the  adventurous  commander.  After 
five  or  six  hours'  sail,  the  squadron  being  in  a  higher  latitude  than 
Cartier  had  supposed,  they  passed  the  coast  of  the  island,  and  still 
continuing  their  course,  they  entered,  on  St.  Lawrence  day,  a 
broad  gulf.  In  commemoration  of  this  event,  they  gave  the 
name  of  St.  Lawrence  to  the  gulf,  and  to  the  great  river  that 
flows  into  it,  which  they  bear  to  this  day. 

Proceeding  up  the  river's  course,  they  found  themselves,  in  a 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  19 

few  days,  opposite  the  Indian  village  of  Stadacona,  then  occupy 
ing  a  portion  of  the  ground  on  which  the  city  of  Quebec  now 
stands.  As  the  vessels  came  to  an  anchor,  the  terrified  natives 
fled  to  the  forest,  where  they  gazed  with  mingled  feelings  of  awe 
and  wonder  on  the  "winged  canoes"  which  had  borne  the  pale- 
faced  strangers  to  their  shores. 

The  Indians  at  once  resolved  on  a  wary  intercourse  with  the 
strangers.  Their  chief,  Donacona,  approached  the  vessels  with  a 
fleet  of  twelve  canoes,  filled  with  armed  warriors.  Ten  of  these 
canoes  he  directed  to  remain  a  short  distance,  while  he  proceeded 
with  the  other  two  to  ascertain  the  purport  of  the  visit — whether 
it  was  for  peace  or  war.  With  this  object  in  view,  he  commenced 
an  oration.  Cartier  heard  the  chief  patiently,  and  with  the  aid 
of  a  Gaspe  Indian  interpreter,  he  was  enabled  to  open  a  conver 
sation,  and  to  quiet  his  apprehensions.  An  amicable  understand 
ing  having  thus  been  established,  Cartier  moored  his  vessels  safely 
in  the  River  St.  Charles,  where,  short!  y  afterwards,  he  received  a 
second  visit  from  Donacona,  who,  this  time,  came  accompanied  by 
five  hundred  warriors  of  his  tribe. 

Having  thoroughly  rested  and  refreshed  himself  and  his  men, 
Cartier  determined  to  explore  the  river  to  Hochelaga,  another 
Indian  town,  which  he  learned  was  situated  further  up  its  course. 
With  the  view  of  impressing  the  Indians  with  the  superiority  of 
the  white  man,  he  caused,  prior  to  his  departure,  several  cannon 
shots  to  be  discharged,  which  produced  the  desired  result.  Like 
their  countrymen  of  the  South  on  the  arrival  of  Columbus,  the 
red  men  of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  alarmed  by  the  firing  of  artil 
lery;  and,  as  its  thunders  reverberated  among  the  surrounding 
hills,  a  feeling  of  terror  took  complete  possession  of  their  minds. 

Leaving  his  other  ships  safely  at  anchor,  Cartier,  on  the  19th  of 
September,  proceeded  up  the  river  with  the  Hermirillon  and  two 
boats.  He  was  compelled,  however,  owing  to  the  shallowness  of 
the  water,  to  leave  the  vessel  at  Lake  St.  Peter.  Bold,  and  loving 
adventure  for  its  own  sake,  and  at  the  same  time  strongly  imbued 
with  religious  enthu^asm,  Cartier  watched  the  shifting  landscape, 
hour  after  hour,  as  he  ascended  the  river,  with  feelings  of  the 
deepest  gratification,  which  were  heightened  by  the  reflection  that 


20  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

he  was  the  pioneer  of  civilization  and  of  Christianity  in  that 
unknown  clime.  "Nature,"  says  MacMullen,  "presented  itself  in 
all  its  primitive  grandeur  to  his  view.  The  noble  river,  on  whose 
broad  bosom  he  floated  onward,  day  after  day,  disturbing  vast 
flocks  of  water  fowl ;  the  primitive  forests  of  the  North,  which 
here  and  there  presented,  amid  the  luxuriance  of  their  foliage, 
the  parasitical  vine,  loaded  with  clusters  of  luscious  grapes,  and 
from  whence  the  strange  notes  of  the  whippowil,  and  other  birds 
of  varied  tone  and  plumage,  such  as  he  had  never  before  seen, 
were  heard  at  intervals;  the  bright  sunshine  of  a  Canadian 
autumn;  the  unclouded  moonlight  of  its  calm  and  pleasant  nights, 
with  the  other  novel  accessories  of  the  occasion,  made  a  sublime 
and  profound  impression  upon  the  mind  of  the  adventurer." 

Cartier  arrived,  on  the  2d  of  October,  opposite  the  Huron  vil 
lage  of  Hochelaga,  the  inhabitants  of  which  lined  the  shore  on 
his  approach,  and  made  the  most  friendly  signs  to  him  to  land. 
Supplies  of  fish  and  corn  were  freely  tendered  by  the  Indians, 
in  return  for  which  they  received  knives  and  beads.  Despite  this 
friendly  conduct,  however,  Cartier  and  his  companions  deemed  it 
most  prudent  to  pass  the  night  on  board  their  boats. 

On  the  following  day,  headed  by  their  leader,  dressed  in  the 
most  imposing  costume  at  his  command,  the  exploring  party 
went  in  procession  to  the  village.  At  a  short  distance  from  its 
environs  they  were  met  by  a  sachem,  who  received  them  with  that 
solemn  courtesy  peculiar  to  the  aborigines  of  America.  Cartier 
made  him  several  presents.  Among  these  was  a  cross,  which  he 
hung  round  his  neck  and  directed  him  to  kiss.  Patches  of  ripe 

HON.    LEWIS    CASS. 

THE  late  Hon.  Lewis  Cass  was  born  in  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  Octo 
ber  9,  1782.  Having  received  a  limited  education  in  his  native  place,  at 
the  early  age  of  seventeen  he  crossed  the  Alleghany  Mountains  on  foot, 
to  seek  a  home  in  the  "  Great  West,"  then  an  almost  unexplored  wilder 
ness.  Settled  at  Marietta,  Ohio;  he  studied  law  and  was  successful. 
Elected  at  twenty -five  to  the  Legislature  of  Ohio,  he  originated  the  bill 
which  arrested  the  proceedings  of  Aaron  Burr,  which,  as  stated  by  Mr. 
Jefferson,  was  the  first  blow  given  to  what  is  known  as  Burr's  conspiracy. 
In  1807  he  was  appointed  by  Mr.  Jefferson  Marshal  of  the  State,  and  held 


HON.  LEWIS  CASS. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  23 

corn  encircled  the  village,  which  consisted  of  fifty  well  built  huts, 
secured  from  attack  by  three  lines  of  stout  palisades.  It  is 
recorded  that  Cartier  did  all  that  he  could  to  soothe  the  minds  of 
the  savages,  and  that  he  even  prayed  with  these  idolaters,  and  dis 
tributed  crosses  and  other  symbols  of  the  Catholic  faith  among 
them. 

After  the  usual  ceremonies  with  the  Indians,  Cartier  ascended 
the  mountain  behind  the  native  village.  Here  he  erected  a  cross 
and  a  shield,  emblazoned  with  the  Fleur-de-lis,  emblem  of  church 
and  State,  and  named  the  region  of  his  discoveries  "  New 
France." 

Favorably  as  Cartier  had  been  received,  the  lateness  of  the 
season  compelled  his  return  to  Stadacona.  The  adventurers  win 
tered  in  the  St.  Charles  river,  and  continued  to  be  treated  with 
apparent  kindness  and  hospitality  by  the  Indians  in  that  vicinity, 
who  had  fortunately  laid  up  abundant  stores  of  provisions. 
Unaccustomed,  however,  to  the  rigor  of  a  Canadian  winter,  and 
scantily  supplied  with  warm  clothing,  Cartier  and  his  companions 
suffered  severely  from  the  cold. 

The  long  and  tedious  winter  at  length  drew  to  a  close ;  the  ice 
broke  up,  and,  although  the  voyage  had  led  to  no  gold  dis 
coveries  or  profitable  returns  in  a  mercantile  point  of  view,  the 
expedition  prepared  to  return  home.  They  compelled  Donacona, 
and  two  other  chiefs  and  eight  warriors,  to  bear  them  company  to 
France,  where  a  greater  part  of  these  unfortunate  men  died  soon 
after  their  arrival.  On  reaching  home  Cartier  reported  to  the 
French  Court  that  the  country  he  had  discovered  was  destitute  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  that  its  coast  was  bleak  and  stormy. 

the  office  till  the  latter  part  of  1811,  when  he  volunteered  to  repel  Indian 
aggressions  on  the  frontier.  He  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regi 
ment  of  Ohio  volunteers,  and  entered  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States  at  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1812.  Having  by  a  difficult 
march  reached  Detroit,  he  urged  the  immediate  invasion  of  Canada,  and 
was  the  author  of  the  proclamation  of  that  event.  He  was  the  first  to 
land  in  arms  on  the  enemy's  shore,  and,  with  a  small  detachment  of 
troops,  fought  and  won  the  first  battle,  that  of  the  Tarontoe.  At  the 
subsequent  capitulation  of  Detroit  he  was  absent  on  important  service, 


24  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

This  sad  account  had  a  most  disastrous  effect  upon  the  energies 
already  awakened  in  France,  and  not  until  four  years  after  Car- 
tier's  return  was  there  a  single  movement  in  the  whole  empire 
looking  toward  a  third  expedition.  Early  in  the  year  1540  Fran 
cis  I  granted  patents  covering  all  the  territory  north  of  British 
occupancy  to  Francoix  de  la  Roque,  Seigneur  de  Roberval.  The 
commission  also  invested  him  with  supreme  power  within  its 
bounds. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  a  squadron  of  five  vessels  was 
fitted  out  for  New  France.  Cartier,  who  had  already  twice  suc 
cessfully  reached  the  western  hemisphere,  was  appointed  to  the 
command,  and  accordingly  the  fleet  set  sail  to  convey  the  French 
flag  once  more  to  America.  After  a  very  successful  voyage,  they 
reached  the  lake  and  river  that  had  received  its  name  from  Car- 
tier  four  years  previously,  and,  proceeding  in  a  westerly  course, 
they  subsequently  arrived  at  Stadacona. 

He  was  at  first  received  with  every  appearance  of  kindness  by 
the  Indians,  who  expected  that  he  had  brought  back  their  chief 
Donacona,  as  well  as  the  other  chiefs  and  warriors  who  had  been 
taken  to  France.  On  learning  that  some  of  these  were  dead,  and 
that  none  of  them  would  return,  they  offered  considerable  resist 
ance  to  the  formation  of  a  settlement  in  their  neighborhood. 

By  these  and  other  difficulties  Cartier  was  induced  to  move 
higher  up  the  river  to  Cape  Rouge,  where  he  laid  up  three  of  his 
vessels  and  sent  the  other  two  back  to  France  with  letters  to  the 
king.  His  next  proceeding  was  to  erect  a  fort,  which  he  called 
Charlesbourg.  Here,  after  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  navigate 


and  regretted  that  his  command  and  himself  had  been  included  in  that 
capitulation.  Liberated  on  parole,  he  repaired  to  the  seat  of  government 
to  report  the  causes  of  the  disaster  and  the  failure  of  the  campaign.  He 
was  immediately  appointed  a  Colonel  in  the  regular  army,  and  soon  after 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General,  having  in  the  meantime  been 
elected  Major-General  of  the  Ohio  volunteers.  On  being  exchanged  and 
released  from  parole,  he  again  repaired  to  the  frontier,  and  joined  the 
army  for  the  recovery  of  Michigan.  Being  at  that  time  without  a  com 
mand,  he  served  and  distinguished  himself  as  a  volunteer  aide-de-camp  to 
General  Harrison  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames.  He  was  appointed  by 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  25 

the  rapids  above  Hochelaga,  he  passed  a  most  uncomfortable 
winter. 

The  promised  supplies 'not  having  arrived,  another  severe  winter 
completely  disheartened  Cartier,  and  he  accordingly  resolved  to 
return  home.  Putting  into  the  harbor  of  St.  John,  Newfound 
land,  he  encountered  Roberval,  who  was  now  on  his  way  to  Canada, 
with  a  new  company  of  adventurers,  and  an  abundance  of  stores 
and  provisions.  Cartier  refused  to  return,  and,  to  avoid  forcible 
detention,;  he  weighed  anchor  in  the  night.  On  the  following 
morning  the  viceroy  arose  and  observed  that  his  wearied  servant 
had  departed.  Roberval  sailed  up  the  river  to  Charlesbourg, 
which  he  strengthened  by  additional  fortifications,  and  where  he 
passed  the  ensuing  winter.  Leaving  a  garrison  of  thirty  men 
behind,  he  returned  the  following  spring  to  France,  where  he  was 
detained  by  his  sovereign  to  assist  in  the  war  against  Charles  V. 

After  the  Peace  of  Cressy,  Roberval,  in  company  with  his 
brother  Achille  and  a  numerous  train  of  adventurers,  again  set 
out  for  this  country.  The  fleet  was  never  heard  of  after  it  put  to 
sea,  and  was  supposed  to  have  foundered,  to  the  regret  of  the 
people  of  France,  who  greatly  admired  the  brothers  for  the  gal 
lant  manner  in  which  they  had  borne  themselves  in  the  war. 

This  loss  completely  discouraged  Henry  II,  then  (1543)  King 
of  France,  and  he  made  no  further  efforts  to  effect  a  settlement  in 
Canada.  It  was  not,  therefore,  till  1598  that  any  noticeable 
movement  was  made  by  the  French  Government  in  projects  of 
trans-Atlantic  colonization.  In  this  year  the  Marquis  de  la 
Roche,  a  nobleman  of  Brittany,  encouraged  by  Henry,  fitted  out 

President  Madison,  in  October,  1813,  Governor  of  Michigan.  His  posi 
tion  combined  with  the  ordinary  duties  of  chief  magistrate  of  a  civilized 
community  the  immediate  management  and  control,  as  Superintendent, 
of  the  relations  with  the  numerous  and  powerful  Indian  tribes  in  this 
region  of  country.  He  conducted  with  success  the  affairs  of  the  Terri 
tory  under  embarrassing  circumstances.  Under  his  sway  peace  was 
preserved  between  the  whites  and  the  treacherous  and  disaffected 
Indians,  law  and  order  established,  and  the  Territory  rapidly  advanced 
in  population,  resources  and  prosperity.  He  held  this  position  till  July, 
1831,  when  he  was  by  President  Jackson  made  Secretary  of  War.  In  the 


26  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

a  large  expedition,  which  convicts  were  permitted  to  join,  as  it  was 
then  difficult  to  find  voluntary  adventurers  owing  to  former  disas 
ters.  Armed  with  the  most  ample  governmental  powers,  the  Mar 
quis  departed  to  the  new  world,  under  the  guidance  of  Chedotel, 
a  pilot  of  Normandy.  But  he  lacked  the  qualities  necessary  to 
insure  success,  and  little  is  recorded  of  his  voyage,  with  the  excep 
tion  that  he  left  forty  convicts  on  Sable  Island,  a  barren  spot  off 
the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia.  Owing  to  the  failure  of  this  adven 
ture,  and  his  attempts  to  equip  another  being  thwarted  at  Court, 
the  Marquis  fell  sick  shortly  after  his  return  home,  and  literally 
died  of  chagrin.  The  unfortunate  convicts  whom  he  left  behind 
were  entirely  forgotten  for  several  years,  and  suffered  the  most 
intense  hardships.  Their  clothes  were  soon  worn  out,  their  provi 
sions  exhausted.  Clad  in  the  skin  of  the  sea-wolf,  subsisting 
upon  the  precarious  supplies  afforded  by  fishing,  and  living  in 
rude  huts  formed  from  the  planks  of  a  wrecked  vessel,  famine  and 
cold  gradually  reduced  their  number  to  twelve.  After  a  residence 
on  the  island  of  twelve  years,  these  wretched  men  were  found  in 
the  most  deplorable  condition  by  a  vessel  sent  out  by  the  Parlia 
ment  of  Rouen  to  ascertain  their  fate.  On  their  return  to  France 
they  were  brought  before  Henry,  who  pardoned  their  crimes  in 
consideration  of  the  great  hardships  they  had  undergone,  and 
gave  them  a  liberal  donation  in  money. 

In  1599  another  expedition  was  resolved  on  by  Chauvin,  of 
Rouen,  a  naval  officer  of  reputation,  and  Poutgrave,  a  sailor  mer 
chant  of  St.  Malo,  who,  in  consideration  of  a  monopoly  of  the 
fur  trade  granted  them  by  Henry,  undertook  to  establish  a  colony 
of  five  hundred  persons  in  Canada.  In  the  spring  of  1600  two 
vessels  were  equipped,  and  Chauvin,  taking  a  party  of  settlers 

latter  part  of  1836  President  Jackson  appointed  him  Minister  to  France, 
where  he  remained  until  1843,  when  he  requested  his  recall  and  returned 
to  this  country.  In  January,  1845,  he  was  elected  by  the  Legislature  of 
Michigan  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  which  place  he  resigned  on 
his  nomination,  in  May,  1848,  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  by  the 
political  party  to  which  he  belonged.  After  the  election  of  his  opponent 
(General  Taylor)  to  that  office,  the  Legislature  of  Michigan,  In  1849, 
re-elected  him  to  the  Senate  for  the  unexpired  portion  of  his  original 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  27 

with  him,  arrived  safely  at  Tadoussac.  He  erected  a  fort  at  this 
place,  aiid  during  the  summer  he  obtained  a  considerable  stock  of 
very  valuable  furs  for  the  most  trifling  consideration.  Being 
anxious  to  dispose  of  these  to  advantage,  he  returned  to  France 
on  the  approach  o'f  winter,  leaving  sixteen  settlers  behind.  These 
were  slenderly  provided  with  provisions  and  clothing,  and  in  the 
cold  weather  were  reduced  to  such  distress  that  they  had  to  throw 
themselves  completely  on  the  hospitality  of  the  natives.  From 
these  they  experienced  much  kindness,  yet  so  great  were  the  hard 
ships  they  endured  that  several  of  them  died  before  succor  arrived 
from  France.  Chauvin's  death,  in  1603,  left  Canada  without  a 
permanent  white  settlement,  yet  the  spirit  of  enterprise  that  had 
taken  firm  hold  of  the  more  adventurous  did  not  become  weak 
ened. 

After  two  more  unsuccessful  expeditions,  one  under  the  direc 
tion  of  De  Chaste,  and  the  other  under  De  Mots,  the  latter 
obtained  in  1607  a  commission  from  King  Henry  for  one  year, 
and,  owing  to  the  representations  of  Samuel  Champlain,  who  had 
conducted  the  expedition  under  De  Chaste,  he  now  resolved  to 
establish  a  French  settlement  on  the  St.  Lawrence.  Fitting  out 
two  vessels,  he  placed  them  under  the  command  of  Champlain,  a 
bold  and  experienced  navigator.  The  expedition  set  sail  from 
Harfleur  on  the  13th  of  April,  1608,  and  arrived  at  Tadoussac  on 
the  3d  of  June.  Here  Pontgrave  remained  to  trade  with  the 
Indians  while  Champlain  proceeded  up  the  river  to  examine  its 
banks,  and  determine  upon  a  suitable  site  for  the  settlement  he 
was  to  found.  After  a  careful  scrutiny,  he  fixed  upon  a  promon 
tory  distinguished  by  a  luxuriant  growth  of  vines,  and  shaded  by 
some  noble  walnut  trees,  called  by  the  natives  "  Qubio  "  or  "  Que- 

terai  of  six  jrears.  When  Mr.  Buchanan  became  President,  he  invited 
General  Cass  to  the  head  of  the  Department  of  State,  which  position  he 
resigned  in  December,  1860.  He  devoted  some  attention  to  literary  pur 
suits,  and  his  writings,  speeches  and  State  papers  would  make  several 
volumes,  among  which  is  one  entitled,  "France,  its  King,  Court  and 
Government,"  published  in  1840. 

He  died  in  Detroit,  June  17,  1866,  and  will  long  be  remembered  as  the 
most  eminent  and  successful  statesman  of  Michigan. 


28  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

bee,"  and  which  was  situated  a  short  distance  from  the  spot  where 
Cartier  had  erected  a  fort,  and  passed  a  winter  sixty-seven  years 
before.  Here,  on  the  3d  of  July,  1608,  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
the  present  city  of  Quebec.  Rude  buildings  of  wood  were  first 
erected  on  the  high  grounds,  to  afford  a  shelter  to  his  men.  When 
these  were  completed  an  embankment  was  formed  above  the  reach 
of  the  tide,  where  Mountain  street  now  lies,  on  which  the  house 
and  battery  were  built.  With  the  exception  of  Jamestown,  in 
Virginia,  this  was  the  first  permanent  settlement  established  in 
North  America. 

Having  followed  the  French  in  their  repeated  journeys  across 
the  ocean,  and  left  them  in  their  first  successful  settlement,  we 
will  next  trace  their  footsteps  in  those  western  voyages  of  dis 
covery  and  adventure  that  secured  the  early  settlement  of  the 
peninsular  State. 


CHAPTER  II. 


CHAMPLAIN  AND  His  INFANT  COLONY — A  PLEASANT  WINTER  IN  THE 
NEW  FOKT— CONDITION  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS— THE  NATIVES— NEW 
FRANCE  CEDED  TO  ENGLAND  EN  1629  —  CHAMPLAIN  RETURNS  TO 
FRANCE. 

SAMUEL  CHAMPLAIN,  as  already  observed,  founded  the  settle 
ment  of  Quebec  in  1608.  This  was  the  first  permanent  foothold 
of  civilization  in  Canada.  The  little  garrison  passed  the  winter 
of  1608  without  suffering  any  of  those  extreme  hardships  which, 
during  the  same  period  of  the  year,  had  distinguished  the  resi 
dence  of  former  adventurers  in  Canada.  Their  dwellings  being 
better  protected  from  the  cold,  their  persons  more  warmly  clothed, 
more  abundantly  supplied  with  provisions,  and  with  a  greater 
amount  of  experience  than  their  predecessors  possessed,  they  dis 
covered  that  a  winter  existence  among  the  snows  of  the  North 
was  not  only  possible,  but  even  had  its  pleasures. 

Winter  gradually  merged  towards  spring  without  producing 
any  incident  of  very  great  importance  to  the  infant  colony. 
Meanwhile  everything  had  been  done  to  preserve  a  good  under 
standing  with  Indians  who  visited  the  fort.  Champlain  wisely 
perceived  that  the  success  of  the  settlement  of  the  country 
depended  upon  their  friendship.  Nor  were  the  Indians  them 
selves,  who  belonged  to  the  Algonquin  nation,  averse  to  the  culti 
vation  of  a  friendly  understanding  with  the  French. 

The  spring  of  1609  seems  to  have  been  an  early  one  with  the 
colony,  and  no  sooner  had  the  weather  become  sufficiently  warm 
to  make  traveling  agreeable,  than  Champlain  prepared  to  ascend 
the  river,  and  explore  it  above  Mount  Royal.  He  spent  the  sum 
mer  in  the  vicinity  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  made  many  valuable 
discoveries.  In  the  autumn  a  disarrangement  in  affairs  in  France 
caused  his  return  home.  In  the  spring  of  1610  he  again  visited 


30  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE    STATES. 

his  little  colony,  and  again  returned  to  France  in  the  autumn  of 
that  year. 

In  1611  Champlain  returned  to  America,  and  determined  to 
establish  a  settlement  further  up  the  river  than  Quebec.  After  a 
careful  survey  he  fixed  upon  a  site  near  Mount  Royal.  His 
choice  has  been  amply  justified  by  the  great  prosperity  to  which 
this  place,  under  the  name  of  Montreal,  has  subsequently  risen. 
Having  cleared  a  considerable  space  of  ground,  he  fenced  it  in  by 
an  earthen  ditch,  and  planted  grain  in  the  enclosure. 

Champlain  again  returned  to  France  with  a  view  of*  making 
arrangements  for  more  extensive  operations.  After  meeting  with 
some  difficulties,  he  sailed  for  Canada  from  Harfleur  in  the  begin 
ning  of  March,  1613,  and  arrived  at  Quebec  on  the  7th  of  May 
following.  He  at  once  commenced  the  prosecution  of  discoveries. 
On  the  21st  of  May  he  arrived  at  Lachine  Rapids,  and  proceeded 
with  his  crew  up  the  Ottawa.  In  the  latter  undertaking  he  expe 
rienced  severe  hardships,  and  encountered  numerous  difficulties. 
After  traversing  large  tracts  of  country,  and  visiting  several 
Indian  villages,  Champlain,  observing*  the  approach  of  winter, 
and  the  need  of  supplies,  returned  to  France  on  the  26th  of 
August,  1614. 

In  the  following  May,  Champlain  arrived  at  Quebec  with  a 
new  expedition.  On  board  of  this  fleet  came  out  four  fathers  of 
the  order  of  the  Recollects,  whose  benevolence  induced  them  to 
desire  the  conversion  of  the  Indians  to  Christianity.  These  were 
the  first  priests  who  settled  in  Canada. 

After  adjusting  matters  in  the  little  colony,  Champlain  set  out 
for  the  Indian  headquarters  at  Lachine  Rapids.  He  spent  the 
summer  and  the  following  winter  among  the  natives,  aiding  them 
in  their  wars  with  the  Iroquois,  and  joining  them  in  the  hunt. 
No  sooner  had  the  spring  of  1616  set  in,  however,  than  he 
returned  to  Quebec,  and  shortly  afterward  sailed  for  France. 
Here  he  remained  over  two  years,  endeavoring  to  secure  another 
expedition.  This  was  delayed  by  a  difficulty  between  the  Prot 
estants  and  Roman  Catholics,  and  not  until  July,  1620,  did  the 
father  of  New  France  return  to  his  charge. 

Champlain's  judicious  management  soon  led  to  the  arrival  of 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN.  31 

additional  settlers,  and  in  1623  the  settlement  of  Quebec  alone 
had  fifty  inhabitants. 

Without  attempting  the  details  in  the  early  history  of  Canada, 
we  will  push  forward  in  the  channel  of  events,  toward  the  settler 
ment  of  Michigan.  The  reader  must  remember,  however,  that 
the  early  history  of  this  State  cannot  be  made  authentic  and  com 
plete  without  including  much  from  the  records  of  that  country  to 
which  our  earliest  settlements  owe  their  existence. 

On  the  first  settlement  of  the  French  in  Canada,  three  great 
nations  divided  the  territory — the  Algonquins,  the  Hurons,  and 
the  Iroquois  or  Five  Nations.  The  dominion  of  the  Algonquins 
extended  along  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  about  a  hundred 
leagues,  and  they  were  once  considered  as  masters  of  this  part  of 
America.  They  are  said  to  have  had  a  milder  aspect  and  more 
polished  manners  than  any  other  tribe.  They  subsisted  entirely 
by  hunting,  and  looked  with  disdain  on  their  neighbors  who  con 
descended  to  cultivate  the  ground.  A  small  remnant  of  this  race 
is  still  to  be  found  at  the  Lake  of  the  Two  Mountains,  and  in  the 
neighborhood -of  Three  Rivers. 

The  Hurons,  or  Wyandots,  were  a  numerous  people,  whose  very 
extensive  territory  reached  from  the  Algonquin  frontier  to  the 
borders  of  the  great  lake  bearing  their  name.  They  were  more 
industrious,  and  derived  an  abundant  subsistence  from  the  fine 
country  they  possessed,  but  they  were  more  effeminate,  and  had 
less  of  the  proud  independence  of  savage  life.  When  first  known 
they  were  engaged  in  a  deadly  war  with  their  kindred,  the  Five 
Nations,  by  whom  they  were  finally  driven  from  their  country. 
A  remnant  of  this  tribe  is  still  to  be  found  in  La  Jeune  Lorrette, 
near  Quebec. 

The  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  destined  to  act  the  most  conspic 
uous  part  among  all  the  native  tribes,  occupied  a  long  range  of 
territory  on  the  southern  border  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  extending 
from  Lake  Champlain  to  the  western  extremity  of  Lake  Ontario. 
They  were  thus  beyond  the  limits  of  what  is  now  termed  Canada, 
but  were  so  connected  with  the  interests  of  this  country  that  we 
must  consider  them  as  belonging  to  it.  The  Five  Nations,  found 
on  the  southern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  embraced  the  Mohawks, 


32  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Senecas  and  Cayugas.  They  were  the  most 
powerful  of  all  the  tribes  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  were  further 
advanced  in  the  few  arts  of  Indian  life  than  their  Algonquin 
neighbors.  They  uniformly  adhered  to  the  British  during  the 
whole  of  the  contest  that  took  place  subsequently  between  the 
French  and  English.  In  1714  they  were  joined  by  the  Tusca- 
roras,  since  which  time  the  confederacy  has  been  called  the  Six 
Nations. 

After  the  return  of  Champlain  to  France  in  1616,  the  interests 
of  the  colony  were  in  great  danger  from  the  Prince  of  Conde, 
Viceroy  of  Canada,  being  not  only  in  disgrace,  but  in  confinement 
for  the  share  taken  by  him  in  the  disturbances  during  the  minor 
ity  of  Louis  XIII.  After  a  great  deal  of  quarreling  amongst 
the  merchants,  the  Due  de  Montmorency  made  an  arrangement 
with  Cond£  for  the  purchase  of  his  office  of  Viceroy,  which  he 
obtained  upon  the  payment  of  11,000  crowns.  Champlain  con 
sidered  this  arrangement  as  every  way  favorable,  as  the  Due  was 
better  qualified  for  such  functions,  and  from  his  situation  of  High 
Admiral  possessed  the  best  means  of  forwarding  the  objects  of  the 
colonists. 

Disputes  between  Rochelle  and  the  other  commercial  cities,  and 
between  the  Catholics  and  Protestants,  prevented  the  departure 
of  any  expedition  for  several  years.  During  this  time  attempts 
were  made  to  degrade  Champlain  from  the  high  situation  in  which 
he  had  been  placed,  but  by  virtue  of  commissions,  both  from 
Montmorency  and  the  king,  he  succeeded  in  crushing  this  oppo 
sition;  and  in  May,  1620,  set  sail  with  his  family  and  a  new  expe 
dition,  and  after  a  very  tedious  voyage  arrived  at  Tadoussac.  The 
first  child  bom  of  French  parents  at  Quebec,  was  the  son  of 
Abraham  Martin  and  Margaret  L'Anglois;  it  was  christened 
"Eustache"  on  the  24th  of  May,  1621. 

The  office  of  Viceroy  had  been  hitherto  little  more  than  a,  name, 
but  at  this  period  it  came  into  the  hands  of  a  man  of  energy  and 
activity.  The  Due  de  Ventadour  having  entered  into  holy  orders, 
took  charge  as  Viceroy  of  the  affairs  of  New  France  solely  with . 
the  view  of  converting  the  natives.  For  this  purpose  he  sent 
three  Jesuits  and  two  lay  brothers,  who  were,  fortunately,  men  of 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN.  33 

exemplary  character,  to  join  the  four  Recollects  at  Quebec.  These 
nine  were  the  only  priests  then  in  Canada. 

The  mercantile  company,  which  had  now  been  intrusted  with 
the  affairs  of  the  colony  for  some  time,  was  by  no  means  active, 
and  was  in  consequence  deprived  of  its  charter,  which  was  given 
to  the  Sieurs  De  Caen,  uncle  and  nephew.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
younger  De  Caen  at  Tadoussac,  Champlain  set  out  to  meet  him, 
and  was  received  with  the  greatest  courtesy.  The  appointment  of 
a  superintendent  could  not  have  been  very  agreeable  to  Cham- 
plain,  who  was  certainly  the  person  best  fitted  for  the  manage 
ment  of  the  local  affairs  of  the  colony.  His  amiable  disposition 
and  love  of  peace,  however,  induced  him  to  use  conciliatory 
measures.  The  new  superintendent,  on  the  contrary,  acted  in  a 
most  violent  manner,  claimed  the  right  of  seizing  on  the  vessels 
belonging  to  the  associated  merchants,  and  actually  took  that  of 
De  Pont,  their  favorite  agent.  Champlain  remonstrated  with  him, 
but  without  effect,  as  he  possessed  no  power  that  could  effectually 
check  the  violence  of  this  new  dictator.  Fortunately  he  thought 
proper  to  return  to  France,  and  left  with  the  settlers  a  good  sup 
ply  of  provisions,  arms  and  ammunition.  His  conduct,~however, 
induced  the  greater  part  of  the  European  traders  to  leave  the 
colony ;  so  that,  eventually,  instead  of  its  being  increased  by  him, 
it  was  considerably  lessened,  a  spirit  of  discontent  diffused,  and 
the  settlers  were  reduced  to  forty-eight. 

Having  got  rid  of  the  troublesome  superintendent,  Champlain 
set  himself  earnestly  to  terminate  the  long  and  desolating  war 
which  now  raged  between  the  Hurons  and  the  Iroquois.  He 
accompanied  some  of  the  chiefs  to  the  headquarters  of  the  Iro 
quois,  where  they  met  with  a  very  kind  reception.  The  treaty 
between  the  nations  was  about  to  be  concluded  when  it  was  nearly 
broken  off  by  the  relentless  conduct  of  a  savage  Huron,  who  had 
accompanied  the  party  in  the  hope  of  making  mischief  and  pre 
venting  peace.  This  barbarian,  meeting  one  of  the  detested  Iro 
quois  in  a  lonely  place,  murdered  him.  Such  a  deed  in  a  member 
of  any  civilized  mission  would  have  terminated  all  negotiations; 
but,  the  deputies  having  satisfied  the  Iroquois  that  it  was  an  indi- 

3 


34  GENERAL    HISTORY    OP    THE   STATES 

vidual  act,  lamented  by  the  Huron  nation,  it  was  overlooked,  and 
the  treaty  was  concluded. 

The  colony  was  at  that  time  in  a  very  unsatisfactory  state, 
the  settlements  at  Quebec  consisting  only  of  fifty-five  persons. 
Indeed  the  whole  of  the  available  possessions  in  New  France 
included  only  the  fort  at  Quebec,  surrounded  by  some  inconsider 
able  houses,  a  few  huts  on  the  island  of  Montreal,  as  many  at 
Tadoussac,  and  at  other  places  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  a  settle 
ment  just  commenced  at  Three  Rivers. 

The  Indian  affairs  were  also  in  disorder.  The  Iroquois  had 
killed  a  party  of  five  on  their  way  to  attack  a  nation  called  the 
Wolves,  and  a  hostile  spirit  was  kindled  amongst  these  fierce 
tribes.  Cham  plain  did  all  in  his  power  to  check  the  spirit,  but 
he  found  it  impossible  to  prevent  a  body  of  hot-headed  young 
Indians  from  making  an  inroad  into  the  Iroquois  territory. 

This  band,  having  reached  Lake  Champlain,  surprised  a  canoe 
with  three  persons  in  it,  two  of  whom  they  brought  home  in  tri 
umph.  The  preparations  for  torturing  them  were  already  going 
on  when  intelligence  was  conveyed  to  Champlain,  who  immediately 
repaired  to  the  spot.  The  sight  of  the  captives  quickened  his 
ardor  in  the  cause  of  humanity,  and  he  entreated  that  they  might 
be  sent  home  unhurt,  with  presents  to  compensate  for  this  wanton 
attack. 

This  advice  was  so  far  adopted  that  one  of  them  was  sent  back, 
accompanied  by  a  chief  and  one  Mangan,  a  Frenchman.  This 
expedition  had,  however,  a  most  tragical  end.  An  Algonquin, 
who  wished  for  war,  contrived  to  persuade  the  Iroquois  that  the 
mission  was  devised  with  the  most  treacherous  intentions.  The 
Iroquois,  misled  by  this  wicked  man,  determined  to  take  cool  and 
deliberate  revenge.  When  the  poor  prisoner,  the  chief  and  the 
Frenchman  arrived,  they  found  the  fire  kindled  and  the  cauldron 
boiling,  and,  being  courteously  received,  were  invited  to  sit  down. 
The  Iroquois  then  asked  the  Algonquin  chief  if  he  did  not  feel 
hungry.  On  his  replying  that  he  did,  they  rushed  upon  him  and 
cut  slices  from  different  parts  of  his  body,  which  soon  after  they 
presented  to  him  half  cooked ;  and  thus  continued  to  torture  him 
till  he  died  in  lingering  agonies.  Their  countryman,  who  had 


HISTORY    OP   MICHIGAN.  35 

returned  to  them  so  gladly,  attempted  to  escape,  and  was  shot 
dead  on  the  spot;  and  the  Frenchman  was  tormented  to  death  in 
the  usual  manner. 

When  the  news  of  this  dreadful  tragedy  reached  the  allies  of 
the  French,  the  war-cry  was  immediately  sounded,  and  Champlain, 
though  deeply  afflicted,  saw  no  longer  any  possibility  of  averting 
hostilities.  He  felt  that,  as  one  of  his  countrymen  had  been 
deprived  of  life,  the  power  of  the  French  would  be  held  in  con 
tempt  if  no  resentment  were  shown.  Indeed  he  experienced  no 
little  trouble  amongst  the  friendly  tribes  who  surrounded  him,  and 
in  several  cases  Europeans  were  murdered  in  an  atrocious  and 
mysterious  manner. 

In  the  meantime  the  De  Caens,  though  not  resident  in  the  col 
ony,  took  an  active  interest  in  the  fur  trade.  Being  Huguenots, 
however,  and  not  likely  to  forward  the  Due's  measures,  Cardinal 
Richelieu,  prime  minister  to  Louis  XIII,  revoked  the  privileges 
which  had  been  granted  to  them,  and  encouraged  the  formation  of 
a  company,  to  be  composed  of  a  great  number  of  men  of  property 
and  credit.  A  charter  was  granted  to  this  company  in  1637, 
under  the  title  of  "  The  Company  of  One  Hundred  Associates." 

This  company  engaged,  first,  to  supply  those  that  they  settled 
with  lodging,  food,  clothing  and  implements  for  three  years,  after 
which  time  they  would  allow  them  sufficient  land  to  support  them 
selves,  cleared  to  a  certain  extent,  with  the  grain  necessary  for 
sowing  it;  secondly,  that  the  emigrants  should  be  native  French 
men  and  Roman  Catholics,  and  that  no  stranger  or  heretic  should 
be  introduced  into  the  country;  and,  thirdly,  they  engaged  to 
settle  three  priests  in  each  settlement,  whom  they  were  bound  to 
provide  with  every  article  necessary  for  their  personal  comfort,  as 
well  as  the  expenses  of  their  ministerial  labors,  for  fifteen  years. 
After  which  clear  lands  were  to  be  granted  by  the  company  to  the 
clergy,  for  maintaining  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  in  New 
France. 

In  return  for  these  services  the  King  made  over  to  the  company 
the  fort  and  settlement  at  Quebec,  and  all  the  territory  of  New 
France,  including  Florida,  with  power  to  appoint  judges,  build 
fortresses,  cast  cannon,  confer  titles,  and  take  what  steps  they 


36  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

might  think  proper  for  the  protection  of  the  colony  and  the  fos 
tering  of  commerce.  He  granted  to  them  at  the  same  time  a 
complete  monopoly  of  the  far  trade,  reserving  to  himself  and 
heirs  only  supremacy  in  matters  of  faith,  fealty  and  homage  as 
sovereign  of  New  France,  and  the  presentation  of  a  crown  of  gold 
at  every  new  succession  to  the  throne.  He  also  secured  for  the 
benefit  of  all  his  subjects,  the  cod  and  whale  fisheries  of  the  gulf 
and  coast  of  St.  Lawrence. 

The  company  were  allowed  to  import  and  export  all  kinds  of 
merchandise  duty  free.  Gentlemen,  both  clergy  and  laity,  were 
invited  to  a  share  in  the  concern,  which  they  readily  accepted  till 
the  number  of  partners  was  completed.  This  was  a  favorite 
scheme  of  Richelieu's;  and  the  French  writers  of  the  day  speak 
of  it  with  great  applause,  as  calculated,  had  it  been  strictly 
adhered  to  and  wisely  regulated,  to  render  New  France  the  most 
powerful  colony  in  America. 

This  plan  of  improvement  met  with  a  temporary  interruption 
by  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  between  England  and  France  in 
1628.  Charles  I,  of  England,  immediately  gave  to  Sir  David 
Kirkt,  a  French  refugee,  a  commission  authorizing  him  to  conquer 
Canada.  In  consequence  of  this,  after  some  offensive  operations 
at  Tadoussac,  he  appeared  with  his  squadron  before  Quebec,  and 
summoned  it  to  surrender ;  but  he  was  answered  in  so  spirited  a 
manner  that  he  judged  it  prudent  to  retire. 

In  1629,  however,  when  Champlain  was  reduced  to  the  utmost 
extremity,  by  the  want  of  every  article  of  food,  clothing,  imple 
ments  and  ammunition,  and  exposed  to  the  attacks  of  the  Iro- 
quois,  Sir  David  Kirkt,  and  his  brothers  Louis  and  Thomas, 
appeared  again  with  a  squadron  before  Quebec.  The  deplorable 
situation  of  the  colony,  and  the  very  honorable  terms  proposed  to 
him  by  Kirkt,  induced  Champlain  to  surrender  Quebec,  with  all 
Canada,  to  the  crown  of  England.  The  English  standard  was 
thus  for  the  first  time  raised  on  the  walls  of  Quebec,  just  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty-five  years  before  the  battle  of  the  Plains  of 
Abraham. 

No  blame  can  be  attached  to  Champlain  for  this  act,  as  famine 
pressed  so  closely  on  the  colonists,  that  they  were  reduced  to  an 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  37 

allowance  of  five  ounces  of  bread  per  day  for  each  person.  Kirkt's 
generosity  to  the  settlers,  who  were  his  own  countrymen,  induced 
most  of  them  to  remain.  Those  who  wished  to  go  were  allowed 
to  depart  with  their  arms,  clothes  and  baggage,  and,  though  the 
request  to  convey  them  home  to  France  could  not  be  complied 
with,  they  were  provided  with  a  commodious  passage  by  the  way 
of  England. 

Champlain,  with  two  little  native  girls,  whom  he  had  carefully 
educated,  arrived  at  Dover,  in  England,  on  the  27th  of  October. 
He  proceeded  thence  to  London,  for  the  purpose  of  conferring 
with  the  French  ambassador.  He  soon  afterward  returned  to 
France,  where,  his  counsels  prevailing  at  the  court  of  Louis  XIII, 
he  was,  upon  the  return  of  peace,  again  invested  with  the  govern 
ment  of  Canada. 


CHAPTER  III. 


HISTORY  OP  NEW  FRANCE,  FROM  THE  WAR  WITH  THE  ENGLISH  IN  1629, 
TO  THAT  OF  1689 — THE  FRENCH  AND  THE  IROQUOIS — COLONIAL 
HISTORY  —  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  FRONTENAC  —  DEFEAT  OF  THE 
ENGLISH. 

THE  English  held  possession  of  Canada  for  three  years,  but, 
attaching  little  or  no  value  to  the  territory,  they  readily  restored 
it  to  France  at  the  Peace  of  St.  Germain  en  Lage,  which  was  con 
cluded  on  the  19th  of  March,  1632.  The  great  and  good  pioneer, 
Samuel  Champlain,  had  the  pleasure  of  reentering  his  beloved 
country  once  more  with  a  squadron,  containing  all  necessary  sup 
plies.  He  resumed  the  government  of  the  colony  which  he  had 
so  long  fostered,  and  continued  to  administer  all  its  affairs  with 
singular  prudence,  resolution  and  courage. 

Champlain  continued  to  prosper  the  colony  till  1635,  when,  full 
of  honors  and  rich  in  public  esteem  and  respect,  he  died,  after  an 
occasional  residence  in  Quebec  of  nearly  thirty  years.  His  obse 
quies  were  performed  with  all  the  pomp  the  little  colony  could 
command,  and  his  remains  were  followed  to  the  grave  with  real 
sorrow  by  the  clergy,  the  civil  and  military  authorities,  and  the 
inhabitants  of  every  class,  each  feeling  deeply  the  loss  of  a  tried 
friend. 

The  death  of  Champlaiu  was  the  most  grievous  misfortune  with 
which  Canada  had  yet  been  visited.  During  the  greater  part  of 
his  active  life  the  chief  object  of  his  heart  was  to  become  the 
founder  of  the  colony  which  he  felt  confident  would  attain  to  a 
summit  of  extraordinary  power  and  importance,  and  to  civilize 
and  convert  its  native  inhabitants.  So  great  was  his  zeal  for  reli 
gion  that  it  was  a  common  saying  with  him,  "  The  salvation  of 
one  soul  was  of  more  value  than  the  conquest  of  an  empire." 

It  was  just  about  the  period  of  his  death  that  the  religious 
establishments,  now  so  numerous,  were  commenced  in  Canada. 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN.  39 

Though  they  did  little  for  the  immediate  improvement  of  the 
colony,  yet  they  formed  the  foundation  on  which  arose  those 
morals  and  habits  which  still  characterize  the  French  Canadians, 
and  which  in  some  instances  merit  admiration.  The  first  mover 
in  this  work  of  benevolence  was  the  Marquis  de  Gamche,  whose 
fervor  had  led  him  to  join  the  order  of  Jesuits.  He  conceived 
the  design  of  forming  a  college  at  Quebec,  and  was  enabled  by 
his  friends  to  offer  six  thousand  gold  crowns  for  this  purpose. 
His  proposal  was  readily  accepted  and  carried  into  effect.  An 
institution  for  instructing  the  Indians  was  also  established  at 
Sillery,  a  few  miles  from  Quebec.  The  Hotel  Dieu,  or  House  of 
God,  was  founded  two  years  afterwards  by  a  party  of  Ursuliiie 
nuns,  who  came  out  under  the  auspices  of  the  Duchesse  d'Aiguil- 
lon.  Madame  de  Peltrie,  also,  a  young  widow  of  rank,  engaged 
several  sisters  of  the  Ursulines  at  Tours,  in  France,  whom  she 
brought  out,  at  her  own  expense,  to  Quebec,  where  they  founded 
the  Convent  of  St.  Ursula. 

The  state  of  the  Indian  nations  rendered  the  situation  of  M.  de 
Montmagny,  the  governor,  who  succeeded  Champlain  in  1635, 
peculiarly  critical.  Owing  to  the  weakness  of  the  French,  the 
Iroquois  had  advanced  by  rapid  steps  to  great  importance.  They 
had  completely  humbled  the  power  of  the  Algonquins,  and  closely 
pressed  the  Hurons,  scarcely  allowing  their  canoes  to  pass  up  and 
down  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  governor  was  obliged  to  carry  on  a 
defensive  warfare,  and  erected  a  fort  at  the  Richelieu,  by  which 
river  the  Iroquois  chiefly  made  their  descents. 

At  length  these  fierce  people  made  proposals  for  a  solid  peace, 
which  were  received  with  great  cordialty.  The  governor  met 
their  deputies  at  Three  Rivers,  where  the  Iroquois  produced  seven 
teen  belts,  which  they  had  arranged  along  a  cord  fastened  between 
two  stakes.  Their  orator  then  came  along  and  addressed  Mont 
magny  by  the  title  of  Oninthio,  which  signifies  Groat  Mountain ; 
and,  though  it  was  in  reference  to  his  name,  they  continued  ever 
after  to  apply  this  term  to  the  French  governors,  sometimes  add 
ing  the  respectful  appellation  of  Father. 

The  orator  declared  their  wish  "  to  forget  their  songs  of  war, 
and  to  resume  the  voice  of  cheerfulness."  He  then  proceeded  to 


40  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

explain  the  meaning  of  the  belts.  They  expressed  the  calming  of 
the  spirit  of  war,  the  opening  of  the  paths,  the  mutual  visits  to 
be  paid,  the  feasts  to  be  given,  the  restitution  of  the  captives,  and 
other  friendly  proceedings.  In  conformity  to  Indian  etiquette, 
the  governor  delayed  his  answer  for  two  days,  and  then  bestowed 
as  many  presents  as  he  had  received  belts,  and  through  an  inter 
preter  expressed  the  most  pacific  sentiments.  Piscaret,  a  great 
chief,  then  said,  "  Behold  a  stone  which  I  place  on  the  sepulchre 
of  those  who  were  killed  in  the  war,  that  no  one  may  attempt  to 
move  their  bones,  and  that  every  desire  of  avenging  their  death 
may  be  laid  aside."  Three  discharges  of  cannon  were  considered 
as  sealing  the  treaty.  This  engagement  was  for  some  time  faith 
fully  observed,  and  the  Iroquois,  the  Algonquins  and  the  Hurons 
forgot  their  deadly  feuds,  and  mingled  in  the  chase  as  if  they  had 
been  one  nation.  M.  de  Montmagny  appears  to  have  commanded 
the  general  respect  of  the  natives,  but,  owing  to  a  change  in  the 
policy  of  the  court,  he  was  unexpectedly  removed. 

Montmagny  was  succeeded  by  M.  d'Aillebout,  who  brought 
with  him  a  reinforcement  of  one  hundred  men.  The  benevolent 
Margaret  Bourgeois,  too,  at  this  time  founded  the  institution  of 
the  Daughters  of  the  Congregation  at  Montreal,  which  is  at  pres 
ent  one  of  the  first  female  seminaries  in  the  colony. 

While  the  French  settlements  were  thus  in  Canada,  those  of 
England  on  the  eastern  shore  of  America  were  making  an  equally 
rapid  progress.  A  union  among  them  seemed  so  desirable  to  the 
new  governor  that  he  proposed  to  the  New  England  colonies  a 
close  alliance  between  them  and  the  French ;  one  object  of  which 


LIEUT.-GOV.    ANDREW    PARSONS. 

ANDREW  PARSONS  was  born  in  the  town  of  Hoosick,  county  of  Rens- 
selaer  and  State  of  New  York,  on  the  22d  day  of  July,  1817,  and  died 
June  6,  1855,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  He  was  the  son  of 
John  Parsons,  born  at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  October  2,  1782,  who  was 
the  son  of  Andrew  Parsons,  a  revolutionary  soldier,  who  was  the  son  of 
Phineas  Parsons,  the  son  of  Samuel  Parsons,  a  descendant  of  Walter 
Parsons,  born  in  Ireland  in  1290.  The  name  is  still  extant,  and  some  one 
hundred  and  thirty  years  ago  Bishop  Gibson  remarked,  in  his  edition  of 
Camden's  Britannia,  "  The  honorable  family  of  Parsons  have  been 


LIEUT.-GOV.  ANDREW  PARSONS. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  43 

was  an  engagement  to  assist  each  other,  when  necessary,  in  mak 
ing  war  "with  the  Five  Nations.  However  desirous  the  English 
colonies  might  have  been  on  other  accounts  to  form  such  an  alli 
ance,  the  condition  with  respect  to  the  Indians  was  not  acceptable 
to  them,  and  the  negotiation  was  broken  off.  Of  what  effects  this 
union,  if  it  had  taken  place,  would  have  been  productive,  it  is 
impossible  now  to  conjecture.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the 
failure  of  the  proposition  must  have  had  an  important  bearing 
upon  the  events  which  followed ;  first,  in  the  continued  rivalry  of 
the  two  nations,  and  afterwards  in  the  wars  between  them,  which 
did  not  end  until  the  whole  of  Canada  was  subjected  to  Great 
Britain. 

At  this  period  the  missionaries  began  to  combine  with  their 
religious  efforts  political  objects,  and  employed  all  their  influence 
in  furthering  the  French  power.  Amongst  other  movements  they 
induced  a  number  of  Iroquois  to  leave  their  own  country  and 
settle  within  the  boundaries  of  the  colony,  but  they  do  not  appear 
to  have  succeeded  in  civilizing  them.  They  found'' the  Hurons, 
however,  far  more  tractable  and  docile.  It  is  said  that  nearly 
three  thousand  of  them  were  baptized  at  one  time.  A  consider 
able  change  soon  appeared  in  this  wild  region,  and  the  christian 
ized  Indians  were  united  in  the  villages  of  Sillery,  St.  Joseph  and 
St.  Mary. 

During  the  administration  of  M.  d'Aillebout,  the  Iroquois 
renewed  the  war  in  all  its  fury,  and  these  peaceable  settlers  found 
that  their  enemies  could  advance  like  foxes  and  attack  like  lions. 
While  the  missionary  was  celebrating  the  most  solemn  rites  of  his 

advanced  to  the  dignity  of  viscounts,  and  more  lately  Earls  of  Ross." 
The  following  are  descendants  of  these  families : 

Sir  John  Parsons,  born  1481,  was  mayor  of  Hereford. 

Robert  Parsons,  born  in  1540,  lived  near  Bridgewater,  England.  He 
was  educated  at  Ballial  College,  Oxford,  and  was  a  noted  writer  and 
defender  of  the  Romish  faith.  He  established  an  English  college  at 
Rome  and  another  at  Valladolid. 

Francis  Parsons,  born  in  1556,  was   Vicar  of  Roth  well,  in  Nottingham. 

Bartholomew  Parsons,  born  in  1618,  was  author  of  various  noted 
sermons. 


44  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

church  iii  the  village  of  Sillery,  the  war  cry  was  suddenly  raised, 
and  an  indiscriminate  massacre  took  place  amongst  the  four  hun 
dred  families  residing  there.  Soon  after,  a  band  of  the  same  people, 
amounting  to  a  thousand,  made  an  attack  upon  the  mission  of  St. 
Ignace,  and  carried  off  or  killed  all  the  inhabitants  except  three. 
St.  Louis  was  next  attacked,  and  made  a  brave  resistance,  which 
enabled  many  of  the  women  and  children  to  escape.  The  mission 
aries  could  have  saved  themselves,  but,  attaching  a  high  import 
ance  to  the  administration  of  the  last  sacrament  to  the  dying, 
they  sacrificed  their  lives  to  the  performance  of  this  sacred  rite. 

Deep  and  universal  dismay  now  spread  over  the  whole  Huron 
tribe.  Their  land,  lately  so  peaceable,  was  become  a  land  of  hor 
ror  and  blood,  and  a  sepulchre  for  the  dead.  At  length  the  Iro- 
quois  began  to  make  overtures  of  peace,  to  which  it  was  found  the 
missionaries  had  powerfully  contributed.  At  first  these  excellent 
men  had  been  regarded  with  extreme  antipathy,  but  many  of 
them,  after  suffering  protracted  torture  and  partial  mutilation,  had 
been  spared  and  adopted  into  the  Indian  families.  Their  meek 
deportment,  their  solemn  ceremonies,  and  the  fervor  with  which 
they  raised  to  God  "  hands  without  fingers,"  made  a  strong 
impression  on  the  savage  breast.  Hence  deputies  appeared  asking 
for  peace.  In  their  figurative  language  they  said  that  "  they 
came  to  wipe  away  the  blood  which  reddened  the  mountains,  the 
lakes  and  the  rivers,"  and  "  to  bring  back  the  sun,  which  had 
hidden  its  face  during  the  late  dreadful  seasons  of  warfare." 
They  also  solicited  "Black  Robes,"  as  they  called  the  mission 
aries,  to  teach  them  the  Christian  doctrine,  and  to  keep  them  in 
the  practice  of  peace  and  virtue. 

In  1634  Thomas  Parsons  was  knighted  by  Charles  I. 

Joseph  and  Benjamin,  brothers,  were  born  in  Great  Torrington,  Eng 
land,  and  accompanied  their  father  and  others  to  New  England  about 
1630. 

Samuel  Parsons,  born  at  Saulsbury,  Mass.,  1707;  graduated  H.  C.,  1730; 
ordained  at  Rye,  N.  H.,  November  3,  1736;  married  Mary  Jones,  only 
daughter  of  Samuel  Jones,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  October  9,  1739;  died  Janu 
ary  4, 1789,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two,  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his  ministry. 
The  grandfather  of  Mary  Jones  was  Captain  John  Adams,  of  Boston, 
grandson  of  Henry  of  Braintree,  who  was  among  the  first  settlers  of 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  45 

The  Viscount  d'Argenson,  the  next  Governor,  considered  it 
necessary  to  accept  these  terms.  The  most  amicable  professions, 
however,  hardly  procured  a  respite  from  hostility,  for  whilst  one 
party  treated  another  attacked.  In  the  following  summer  Abbe" 
Montigny,  titular  bishop  of  Petre,  landed  at  Quebec  with  a  brief 
from  the  Pope,  constituting  him  apostolic  vicar.  Curacies  were  at 
the  same  time  established  in  Canada. 

The  Viscount  d'Argenson,  having  requested  his  recall  on 
account  of  ill  health,  was  relieved  by  the  Baron  d'Avangour,  an 
officer  of  great  integrity  and  resolution.  His  decisive  measures 
seemed  to  have  saved  Canada.  He  represented  the  defenseless 
state  of  the  country,  and  its  natural  beauty  and  importance,  to  the 
King  in  warm  and  forcible  language,  and  excited  a  deep  interest 
for  these  distant  possessions  in  the  mind  of  his  Majesty,  who  had 
been  hitherto  ignorant  of  their  value. 

It  was  at  length  announced  that  a  grand  deputation  was  coming 
from  all  the  cantons  with  the  intention  of  "  uniting  the  whole 
earth,"  and  of  "  burying  the  hatchet  so  deep  that  it  might  never 
again  be  dug  up,"  and  they  brought  with  them  a  hundred  belts  of 
wampum,  each  of  which  signified  some  condition  of  the  proposed 
peace.  Unfortunately  a  party  of  Algonquins  formed  an  ambus 
cade  and  killed  the  greater  part  of  them.  Owing  to  this  deplor 
able  event  all  prospects  of  peace  were  blasted,  and  war  raged  with 
greater  fury  than  ever. 

The  Iroquois,  having  seen  the  powerful  effect  of  firearms  in 
their  wars  with  the  French,  had  procured  them  from  the  Dutch 
at  Manhattan  (now  New  York),  and  thus  acquired  an  additional 

Massachusetts,  and  from  whom  a  numerous  race  of  the  name  are 
descended,  including  two  Presidents  of  the  United  States.  The  Par- 
sonses  have  become  very  numerous,  and  are  found  throughout  New 
England,  and  many  of  the  descendants  are  scattered  in  all  parts  of  the 
United  States,  and  especially  in  the  Middle  and  Western  States. 

Gov.  Andrew  Parsons  came  to  Michigan  in  1835,  at  the  age  of  seven 
teen  years,  and  spent  the  first  summer  at  lower  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  for 
a  few  months  taught  school,  which  he  was  compelled  to  abandon  from 
ill  health. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  explored  the  Grand  Hiver  valley  in  a  frail 


46  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

superiority  over  the  wild  tribes  of  the  west.  They  attacked  the 
Ottawas,  who  did  not  even  make  an  attempt  at  resistance,  but 
sought  refuge  in  the  islands  of  Lake  Huron.  They  commenced  a 
desperate  war  with  the  Eriez,  a  name  in  their  language  signifying 
cats,  and  after  a  hard  struggle  completely  succeeded.  It  is 
remarkable  that  this  powerful  nation  has  left  no  memorial  of  its 
existence  except  the  great  lake  which  bears  its  name. 

In  1663  the  colony  was  visited  by  a  most  remarkable  succession 
of  earthquakes,  which  commenced  on  the  6th  of  February  and 
continued  for  half  a  year  with  little  intermission.  They  returned 
two  or  three  times  a  day,  visiting  both  land  and  water,  and 
spreading  universal  alarm,  yet  without  inflicting  any  permanent 
injury  or  causing  the  loss  of  a  single  life. 

This  remarkable  event  was  preceded  by  a  great  rushing  noise, 
heard  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the  country,  which  caused 
the  people  to  fly  out  of  their  houses  as  if  they  had  been  on  fire. 
Instead  of  fire  they  were  surprised  to  see  the  walls  reeling  back 
ward  and  forward,  and  the  stones  moving  as  if  detached  from  each 
other ;  the  bells  sounded,  the  roofs  of  the  buildings  bent  down,  the 
timbers  cracked  and  the  earth  trembled  violently.  Animals  were 
to  be  seen  flying  about  in  every  direction,  children  were  crying 
and  screaming  in  the  streets,  and  men  and  women,  horror-stricken 
and  ignorant  whither  to  fly  for  refuge,  stood  still,  unable  to  move. 
Some  threw  themselves  on  their  knees  in  the  snow,  calling  on  the 
saints  for  aid,  while  others  passed  this  dreadful  night  in  prayer. 

The  movement  of  the  ground  resembled  the  waves  of  the  ocean, 
and  the  forest  appeared  as  if  there  was  a  battle  raging  between 

canoe,  the  whole  length  of  the  river  from  Jackson  to  Lake  Michigan,  and 
spent  the  following  winter  as  clerk  in  a  store  at  Prairie  Creek,  in  Ionia 
county,  and  in  the  spring  went  to  Marshall,  where  he  resided  with  his 
brother,  Hon.  Luke  H.  Parsons,  also  now  deceased,  until  fall,  when  he 
went  to  Shiawassee  county,  then,  with  Clinton  county,  an  almost  unbro 
ken  wilderness,  and  constituting  one  organized  township.  In  1837  this 
territory  was  organized  into  a  county,  and  at  the  age  of  only  nineteen 
years  he  (Andrew)  was  elected  County  Clerk.  In  1840  he  was  elected 
Register  of  Deeds,  re-elected  in  1842,  and  also  in  1844.  In  1846  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  was  appointed  Prosecuting  Attorney  in  1848, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  47 

the  trees,  so  that  the  Indians  declared  in  their  figurative  language, 
"  that  all  the  trees  were  drunk."  The  ice,  which  was  upward  of 
six  feet  thick,  was  rent  and  thrown  up  in  large  pieces,  and  from 
the  openings  came  thick  clouds  of  smoke  or  fountains  of  dirt  and 
sand.  The  springs  were  impregnated  with  sulphur,  many  rivers 
were  totally  lost,  some  became  yellow,  others  red,  and  the  St.  Law 
rence  appeared  entirely  white  down  as  far  as  the  Tadoussac. 

The  extent  of  this  earthquake  was  so  great  that  one  hundred 
and  eighty  thousand  square  miles  were  convulsed  on  the  same  day. 
Ther$  is  nothing,  however,  in  the  whole  visitation  so  worthy  of 
remark  as  the  care  and  kindness  which  God  showed  to  the  people 
in  preserving  them,  so  that  not  one  was  lost  or  had  a  hair  of  his 
head  injured. 

Louis  XIV  resolved  at  this  time  to  raise  Canada  to  her  due 
importance,  and  no  longer  to  overlook  one  of  the  finest  countries 
in  the  world,  or  expose  the  French  power  to  contempt  by  allowing 
it  to  be  trampled  on  by  a  handful  of  savages.  For  this  purpose 
he  sent  out  four  hundred  troops,  accompanied  by  M.  de  Mesy  as 
Governor,  to  examine  into  and  regulate  the  different  branches  of 
administration. 

Hitherto  the  Governor  had  exercised  in  person,  and  without 
control,  all  the  functions  of  government;  but  Louis  resolved 
immediately  to  erect  Canada  into  a  royal  government  with  a 
Council  and  Intendant,  to  whom  should  be  intrusted  the  weighty 
affairs  of  justice,  police,  finance  and  marine.  In  this  determina 
tion  he  was  warmly  seconded  by  his  chief  minister,  the  great  Col 
bert,  who  was  animated  by  the  example  of  Great  Britain  to 

elected  Regent  of  the  University  in  1851,  and  Lieutenant-Governor  and 
became  acting  Governor  in  1853,  elected  again  to  the  Legislature  in  1854, 
and,  overcome  by  debilitated  health,  hard  labor  and  the  responsibilities 
of  his  office  and  cares  of  his  business,  retired  upon  his  farm,  where  he 
died  soon  after. 

He  was  a  fluent  and  persuasive  speaker,  and  well  calculated  to  make 
friends  of  his  acquaintances.  He  was  always  true  to  his  trusts,  and  the 
whole  world  could  not  persuade  nor  drive  him  to  do  what  he  conceived 
to  be  wrong.  When  Governor  a  most  powerful  railroad  influence  was 
brought  to  bear  upon  him  to  induce  him  to  call  an  extra  session  of  the 


48  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

improve  the  navigation  and  commerce  of  his  country  by  colonial 
establishments. 

The  company  of  the  "  One  Hundred  Partners  "  hitherto  exer 
cised  the  chief  power  in  Canada.  They  were  very  attentive  to 
their  own  interests  in  rigidly  guarding  their  monopoly  of  the  fur 
trade,  but  had  been  all  along  utterly  regardless  of  the  general 
welfare  of  the  colony.  They  were  now,  however,  very  unwillingly 
obliged  to  relinquish  their  privileges  into  the  hands  of  the  crown. 

M.  de  Mesy  was  succeeded  by  the  Marquis  de  Tracy,  who 
arrived  in  Canada  in  1665.  He  brought  with  him  the  whole 
regiment  of  De  Carignan  Salieres,  consisting  of  more  than  one 
thousand  men,  the  officers  of  which  soon  became  the  chief 
seigneurs  of  the  colony.  The  regiment  had  been  employed  for 
some  time  in  Hungary,  and  had  acquired  a  high  reputation.  This, 
with  a  considerable  number  of  settlers,  including  agriculturists 
and  artisans,  with  horses  and  cattle,  formed  an  accession  to  the 
colony  which  far  exceeded  its  former  numbers. 

The  enlightened  policy  of  Colbert,  in  thus  raising  Canada  into 
notice  and  consideration,  was  followed  by  the  success  it  deserved. 
To  well  regulated  civil  government  was  added  increased  military 
protection  against  the  Iroquois.  Security  being  thus  obtained,  the 
migration  of  French  settlers  increased  rapidly,  and,  being  pro 
moted  in  every  possible  way  by  the  government,  New  France  rose 
rapidly  into  consideration  and  importance.  Owing  to  the  pres 
ence  of  so  many  soldiers,  a  martial  spirit  was  imparted  to  the 
population,  and  they  began  to  prepare  to  defend  properly  the 
country  of  their  adoption. 

Legislature.  Meetings  were  held  in  all  parts  of  the  State  for  that  pur 
pose.  In  some  sections  the  resolutions  were  of  a  laudatory  nature, 
intended  to  make  him  do  their  bidding  by  resort  to  friendly  and  nattering 
words;  in  other  places  the  resolutions  were  of  a  demanding  nature,  while 
in  others  they  were  threatening  beyond  measure.  Fearing  that  all  these 
influences  might  fail  to  induce  him  to  call  the  extra  session,  a  large  sum 
of  money  was  sent  him,  and  liberal  offers  tendered  if  he  would  gratify  the 
railroad  interest  of  the  State  and  call  the  extra  session.  But  he  returned 
the  money,  and  refused  to  receive  any.  favors  whatever  from  any  party 
who  would  attempt  to  corrupt  him  by  laudations,  liberal  offers,  or  by 


HISTOKY    OF    MICHIGAN.  49 

The  new  Viceroy  lost  no  time  in  preparing  to  check  the  inso 
lence  of  the  Iroquois,  and  to  establish  a  supremacy  over  them  he 
erected  three  forts  on  the  river  Richelieu,  th«  first  at  Sorel,  the 
second  at  Chambly,  and  the  third  further  up  the  river.  Over 
awed  by  these  movements,  and  by  the  report  of  a  large  force 
inarching  against  them,  three  of  the  cantons  sent  deputies  with 
ample  professions  of  friendship,  proposing  an  exchange  of  all  the 
prisoners  taken  on  both  sides  since  the  last  treaty,  to  which  the 
Viceroy  agreed. 

The  Marquis  de  Tracy  continued  in  authority  only  a  year  and 
a  half,  and  on  his  return  to  France  carried  with  him  the  affection 
of  the  people.  He  maintained  a  state  which  had  never  been  seen 
before  in  Canada.  Besides  the  regiment  of  Carignan,  he  was 
allowed  to  maintain  a  body-guard,  wearing  the  same  uniform  as 
the  Garde  Royale  of  France.  He  always  appeared  on  state  occa 
sions  with  these  guards,  twenty-four  in  number,  who  preceded 
him,  while  four  pages  immediately  accompanied  him,  followed  by 
five  valets.  It  was  thought  at  that  time  that  this  style  gave 
favorable  impressions  of  royal  authority. 

Before  this  officer  returned  home  he  placed  the  country  in  a 
state  of  defense,  and  established  the  Company  of  the  West  Indies, 
as  this  new  company  was  called  from  having  been  united  to  the 
other  French  possessions  in  America,  which  we  have  not  yet  men 
tioned.  This  very  able  Governor  left  M:  de  Courcelles  to  act  as 
Governor-General,  with  several  officers  of  great  ability  under  his 
command. 

As  already  stated,  M.  de  Courcelles  succeeded  M.  de  Tracy  in 
the  government  of  New  France. 


threats; 'and  in  a  short  letter  to  the  people,  after  giving  overwhelming 
reasons,  that  no  sensible  man  could  dispute,  showing  that  the  circum 
stances  were  not  "  extraordinary^  he  refused  to  call  the  extra  session. 
This  brought  down  the  wrath  of  various  parties  upon  his  head,  but  they 
were  forced  soon  to  acknowledge  the  wisdom  and  the  justice  of  his 
course. 

One  of  his  greatest  enemies  said,  after  long  acquaintance:    "Though 
not  always  coinciding  with  his  views,  I  never  doubted  his  honesty  of 
purpose.     He  at  all  times  sought  to  perform  his  duties  in  strict  accord 
ance  with  the  dictates  of  his  conscience  and  the  behests  of  his  oath." 
4 


50  GENERAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

During  his  administration  little  doubt  was  entertained  as  to  the 
permanency  of  the  colony.  The  inhabitants  began  to  extend 
their  settlements,  and  to  cultivate  their  lands.  The  officers  and 
soldiers  had  liberal  grants  made  to  them,  and  a  free  trade  was 
granted  to  the  country  generally. 

As  the  number  of  men  greatly  exceeded  that  of  the  women, 
several  hundreds  were  sent  from  France  to  Canada.  As  soon  as 
they  arrived,  an  advertisement  was  published  to  let  the  people 
know  "that  a  supply  had  been  sent  over,  and  that  such  as  had 
the  means  of  supporting  a  wife  should  have  their  choice."  It  is 
said  the  collection  consisted  of  tall,  short,  fair,  brown,  fat  and  lean. 
So  great  was  the  demand  that  in  about  a  fortnight  the  whole 
cargo  was  disposed  of. 

In  1670  the  church  of  Quebec  was  constituted  a  bishopric; 
some  important  measures  were  also  adopted  for  the  better  govern 
ing  of  the  country,  and  for  maintaining  peace  with  the  savages. 
The  trade  and  agriculture  of  the  country  prospered;  and  the 
clerical  orders  became  more  enthusiastic  than  ever  in  their  efforts 
to  make  proselytes  of  the  Indians. 

A  fatal  calamity,  however,  which  had  been  hitherto  unknown 
in  the  New  World,  made  its  appearance  among  the  tribes  north  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  namely,  the  small-pox.  This  scourge,  more 
terrible  to  the  savages  than  all  the  fire-arms  in  Europe,  carried  off 
more  than  half  their  number,  and  spread  a  universal  panic  over 
the  land. 

Courcelles  had  requested  his  recall,  and  in  1672,  on  his  return 
from  a  journey  to  Cataraqui,  where  he  had  fixed  upon  a  spot  for 


His  amiable  widow  is  a  sister  of  J.  S.  and  Dr.  D.  O.  Farrand,  of  this 
city,  and  we  understand  she  is  now  a  member  of  the  Doctor's  family. 

The  following  eiilogium  from  a  political  opponent  is  just  in  its  concep 
tion  and  creditable  to  its  author :  ' '  Governor  Parsons  was  a  politician  of 
the  Democratic  school,  a  man  of  pure  moral  character,  fixed  and  exem 
plary  habits,  and  entirely  blameless  in  every  public  and  private  relation 
of  life.  As  a  politician  he  was  candid,  frank  and  free  from  bitterness; 
as  an  executive  officer,  firm,  constant  and  reliable." 

The  highest  commendation  we  can  pay  the  deceased  is  to  give  his  just 
meed — that  of  being  an  honest  man. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  51 

building  a  fort  near  the  present  site  of  Kingston,  he  found  his 
place  supplied.  His  successor  was  Louis  Count  de  Frontenac, 
who  was  destined  to  act  an  important  part  in  Canada. 

Frontenac  was  able,  active,  enterprising  and  ambitious;  but 
proud,  overbearing  and  subject  to  capricious  jealousies.  Entering, 
however,  cordially  into  his  predecessor's  views  in  regard  to  the 
fort  at  Cataraqui,  he  caused  it  to  be  built  immediately,  and 
actively  promoted  vast  projects  for  exploring  the  interior  regions 
of  this  continent. 

The  brilliant  talents  of  M.  de  Frontenac  were  sometimes 
obscured  by  prejudices,  but  his  plans  for  the  aggrandizement  of 
Canada  were  splendid  and  just.  He  possessed,  however,  a  spirit 
which  would  not  brook  contradiction.  For  having  neglected  some 
orders  given  by  him,  he  imprisoned  the  Intendant-General,  M.  de 
Chesnau;  the  Procurator-General  he  exiled;  the  Governor  of 
Montreal  he  put  under  arrest;  and  the  Abbe  de  Salignac,  Fenelon, 
then  superintending  the  seminary  of  the  St.  Sulpicians,  at  Mon 
treal,  he  imprisoned  under  pretence  of  having  preached  against 
him.  His  principal  opponent  was  the  Bishop,  who,  very  properly, 
disapproved  of  the  sale  of  spirits  to  the  Indians,  which  was  found 
to  produce  the  most  pernicious  effects.  The  Count,  however, 
considered  it  as  at  once  extremely  profitable,  and  as  a  means  of 
attaching  them  to  the  French  interest. 

In  1682  Fronteuac  was  recalled,  and  M.  de  la  Barre  appointed 
his  successor.  Soon  after  his  arrival,  the  Iroquois  assumed  a  tone 
of  defiance,  and  made  formidable  preparations  for  war.  These 
caused  great  apprehensions  of  a  general  war  among  the  Indians, 
and  the  state  of  Canada  became  alarming  in  the  highest  degree, 
as  the  whole  population  consisted  only  of  nine  thousand  persons. 

The  military  strength  of  Canada  had  been  reduced  greatly  in 
consequence  of  many  of  the  troops  having  become  proprietors  and 
cultivators  of  land.  M.  de  la  Barre,  'however,  determined  upon 
war,  and,  having  obtained  a  reinforcement  of  two  hundred  men, 
advanced  up  the  St.  Lawrence.  He  was  met  at  Montreal  by  a 
deputation  from  the  cantons,  who  made  strong  professions  of 
friendship,  but  he  considered  them  as  unworthy  of  credit.  He 
directed  all  bis  force  against  the  Senecas,  because  it  was  through 


52  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

their  country  that  the  English  had  penetrated  to  the  fur  trade  on 
the  lakes.  He  found,  however,  that  the  tribes  had  determined  to 
make  common  cause,  and  had  received  ample  assurance  of  aid 
from  New  York,  which  had  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  Eng 
lish.  Through  their  various  settlements,  the  English  held  a  kind 
of  dominion  over  the  Iroquois  country,  and  they  endeavored,  with 
success,  to  alienate  them  from  the  French,  chiefly  by  dealing  with 
the  tribes  on  more  advantageous  terms. 

The  Iroquois  soon  found  it  to  their  interest  not  only  to  carry  all 
their  furs  to  the  English  market,  but  to  buy  up  those  of  the  other 
tribes  in  alliance  with  France.  Heavy  complaints  were  constantly 
made  by  the  French,  but  the  Indians  treated  them  with  great 
indifference.  They  shrewdly  discovered,  in  the  eager  competition 
between  these  two  European  nations,  the  means  of  rendering  their 
own  position  more  secure  and  imposing. 

After  meeting  the  deputies  at  Montreal,  M.  de  la  Barre  pro 
ceeded  to  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Ontario,  where  he  had 
another  interview  with  the  Indians.  He  assumed  a  lofty  tone, 
complained  of  their  inroads  into  the  country  of  the  tribes  in 
alliance  with  France,  and  of  their  having  conducted  the  English 
to  the  lakes,  and  enabled  them  to  supplant  the  commerce  of  his 
countrymen.  He  concluded  by  stating  that,  unless  reparation 
was  made  for  these  injuries,  with  a  promise  to  abstain  from  them 
in  future,  war  and  devastation  of  their  country  must  be  the  imme 
diate  consequence.  The  deputies  very  coolly  replied  "that  he 
appeared  to  speak  like  one  in  a  dream,  and  that  if  he  would  open 
his  eyes,  he  would  see  himself  wholly  destitute  of  the  means  of 
executing  these  formidable  threats."  With  regard  to  the  English 
they  said,  "that  they  had  allowed  them  to  pass  through  their 
country  on  the  same  principle  on  which  they  had  given  permission 
to  his  people  to  pass."  They  professed  themselves  anxious  "that 
the  hatchet  should  still  remain  buried,  unless  the  country  granted 
to  them  should  be  attacked."  The  Onondaga  deputies  guaranteed 
reparation  for  any  actual  plunder  inflicted  on  French  traders,  but 
added  that  no  more  could  be  conceded,  and  that  the  .army  must 
be  immediately  withdrawn.  Humiliating  as  these  terms  were 
after  such  lofty  threats  and  preparations,  De  la  Barre  had  no 
choice  but  to  comply,  and  return  to  Quebec. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  53 

Here  he  found  that  a  fresh  reinforcement  had  been  landed. 
The  letters  he  received  from  court  intimated  the  expectation  that 
he  was  carrying  on  a  triumphant  war  with  the  Five  Nations,  and 
conveyed  from  the  King  an  absurd  and  cruel  request  that  he  would 
send  a  number  of  Iroquois  to  man  the  galleys. 

When  the  real  issue  of  the  campaign  was  reported  at  court, 
great  dissatisfaction  was  felt.  The  Governor  was  immediately  pro 
nounced  unfit  for  his  situation,  and  was  superseded  by  the  Mar 
quis  de  Denonville. 

This  active  and  brave  officer,  immediately  on  his  arrival,  pro 
ceeded  to  Cataraqui,  now  Kingston,  with  about  two  thousand 
troops.  After  a  very  short  time  he  declared  his  conviction  that 
the  Iroquois  could  never  be  conciliated,  and  that  it  was  necessary 
either  to  extirpate  them  or  reduce  them  to  a  state  of  entire 
dependence.  He  proposed  to  erect  a  strong  fort  at  Niagara,  to 
prevent  them  from  introducing  the  English  fur  trade  into  the 
Upper  Lakes. 

An  instance  of  treachery  stains  the  character  of  Deiionville. 
Having,  under  various  pretences,  assembled  a  number  of  chiefs  at 
Fort  Frontenac  (Kingston),  he  iniquitously  put  them  in  irons,  and 
sent  them  off  to  France,  to  fulfill  the  king's  absurd  wishes.  He 
then  proceeded  towards  the  Seneca  ^country,  where  he  met  with  but 
little  opposition,  and  marched  for  ten  days,  burning  and  destroy 
ing  all  grain  and  provisions  not  required  by  his  troops.  Although 
the  Governor  of  New  York  remonstrated  with  him,  urging  that 
the  Iroquois  were  the  subjects  of  England,  yet  he  persevered,  and 
carried  into  execution  his  plan  of  erecting  and  garrisoning  a  fort 
at  Niagara.  He  then  found  it  necessary  to  return  to  the  Canadian 
side  of  Lake  Ontario. 

Scarcely  had  he  reached  home  before  the  Iroquois  showed  that 
they  were  masters  of  the  country.  They  attacked  Fort  Niagara, 
and  razed  it  to  the  ground.  They  covered  the  lake  with  their 
canoes,  attacked  Fort  Frontenac,  burned  all  the  corn-stacks  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  captured  a  French  bark  laken  with  provisions 
and  stores.  The  Indian  allies  of  the  French  attacked  the  Iroquois 
of  Sorel,  and  committed  many  depredations  on  the  English  settle 
ments,  plundering  the  property  and  scalping  the  inhabitants. 


54  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

At  length  both  parties  desired  peace,  and  a  treaty  was  set  on 
foot  for  this  purpose.  Deputies  from  the  Iroquois  proceeded  to 
Montreal,  leaving  at  two  days'  distance  behind  them  twelve  hun 
dred  of  their  countrymen,  fit  for  immediate  action.  Proud  of 
their  commanding  situation,  they  demanded  the  restoration  of  the 
chiefs,  unjustly  seized,  and  of  all  other  captives.  They  allowed 
the  Governor  only  four  days  to  consider  the  offer,  threatening,  if 
not  accepted,  immediately  to  set  fire  to  the  buildings  and  corn 
fields,  and  to  murder  the  inhabitants.  The  deepest  consternation 
prevailed  at  Montreal,  and  Denonville  found  himself  under  the 
necessity  of  accepting  these  humiliating  conditions,  and  of  request 
ing  back  from  France  the  chiefs  he  so  basely  sent  thither.  This 
deep  and  deserved  mortification  was  a  just  recompense  for  his 
treachery  to  the  Indians. 

The  state  of  affairs  in  Canada  became  desperate.  The  peace 
with  the  Iroquois  was  soon  ended  in  another  war.  The  Fort  of 
Niagara  had  been  destroyed.  Fort  Frontenac  was  blown  up  and 
abandoned  by  the  French,  and  two  ships  that  were  built  for  the 
purpose  of  navigating  Lake  Ontario,  were  burned  to  prevent  them 
from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Iroquois.  War,  famine  and  dis 
ease  seemed  as  if  combined  for  the  utter  destruction  of  the  colony. 

In  this  extremity  it  was  judged  necessary  to  place  at  the  head 
of  affairs  an  officer  possessing  energy  of  character  and  address  in 
dealing  with  the  natives.  These  qualities  were  found  united  in 
the  Count  de  Frontenac,  who,  during  his  former  administration, 
had  made  himself  both  belo\^d  and  feared  by  the  Indians. 

The  Count,  in  1689,  brought  out  with  him  the  captive  chiefs 
whom  Denonville  had  so  unjustly  seized.  So  fascinating  were  his 
manners  that  he  completely  gained  their  favor,  Oureonhare,  the 
principal  one,  remaining  ever  most  strongly  attached  to  him.  All 
the  chiefs,  indeed,  had  so  great  a  regard  for  him  that  he  enter 
tained  hopes  of  conciliating  the  Iroquois  without  much  difficulty. 
With  this  view  he  sent  a  deputy  of  that  nation,  with  four  of  his 
captive  countrymen,  to  announce  his  return  and  his  wish  to 
resume  amicable  relations.  Oureonhare  transmitted  a  message, 
requesting  them  to  send  an  embassy  to  their  "  Ancient  Father," 
from  whom  they  would  experience  much  tenderness  and  esteem. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  55 

The  Iroquois  council  sent  back  the  same  deputies  with  six  belts, 
intimating  their  resolution,  which  was  expressed  in  lofty  and  bitter 
terms.  Choosing  to  consider  "Ouinthio"  one  and  the  same, 
though  they  knew  that  Frontenac  was  not  the  offending  person, 
they  complained  "  that  his  rods  of  correction  had  been  too  sharp 
and  cutting ;  that  the  roots  of  the  tree  of  peace,  which  he  had 
planted  at  Fort  Froutenac,  had  been  withered  by  blood,  and  the 
ground  had  been  polluted."  They  demanded  atonement  for  these 
injuries,  and  that  Oureonhare  and  his  captive  companions  should 
be  sent  back  previous  to  the  liberation  of  the  French  prisoners. 
"  Oninthio  would  then  be  free,"  they  said,  "  to  plant  again  the 
tree  of  liberty,  but  not  in  the  same  place." 

Two  circumstances  emboldened  the  Iroquois  to  take  so  high  a 
tone  at  this  period.  The  first  was  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
revolution  in  England,  the  cause  of  James  II  was  warmly 
embraced  by  the  French,  and  the  two  kingdoms  were  at  open  war. 
On  this  account  the  Indians  could  depend  upon  the  cordial  coop 
eration  of  the  English.  The  second  was  that  they  were  engaged 
in  a  treaty  with  the  Ottawas  for  a  better  market  for  their  furs. 

Frontenac,  finding  his  attempts  at  negotiation  fruitless,  resolved 
to  act  with  such  vigor  as  to  humble  the  Iroquois.  He  therefore 
collected  his  allies,  and  divided  them  amongst  his  regular  troops, 
and  several  English  settlements  were  surprised  and  pillaged. 
Schenectady,  the  frontier  town  of  New  York,  was  attacked  by  a 
party  of  one  hundred  French  and^a  number  of  Indians.  The 
fort  and  every  house  were  pillaged  and  burned,  and  all  the  horrors 
of  Indian  warfare  let  loose  upon  the  inhabitants.  The  English 
accounts  say  that  sixty-three  men,  women  and  children  were  mas 
sacred  in  cold  blood. 

His  next  care  was  to  send  detachments  to  convey  to  Montreal 
the  furs  which  had  been  stored  at  Michilimackinac.  This  they 
effected,  and  a  large  party,  who  attempted  to  attack  them,  was 
completely  defeated.  Notwithstanding  these  successes,  the  Iro 
quois  maintained  the  same  hostility  and  haughtiness.  The  old 
allies  of  the  French,  seeing  them  resume  their  former  energy, 
determined  to  prefer  them  to  the  English.  The  Ottawas  owned 
that  they  had  made  some  progress  in  a  negotiation  with  the 


56  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

English,  but  that,  as  soon  as  they  had  heard  of  the  return  of 
their  "Ancient  Father,"  they  had  broken  it  off.  The  Hurons 
denied  "  having  entered  into  any  treaty  which  could  detach  them 
from  their  beloved  Oninthio." 

The  attention  of  Frontenac  was  called  in  the  autumn  of  this 
year  from  the  Indians  to  the  English,  who  had  determined  to 
strike  a  blow  which,  they  hoped,  would  deprive  the  French  of  all 
their  possessions  in  America.  This  was  a  plan  of  attack  on  Can 
ada,  which  was  carried  out  by  the  English  colonists  at  an  expense 
of  £15,000.  It  was  twofold :  first,  by  land  and  inland  naviga 
tion  on  the  southern  frontier,  and,  second,  by  a  fleet  sent  from 
Boston  to  attack  Quebec. 

The  squadron,  under  the  command  of  Sir  William  Phipps, 
appeared  as  far  up  the  river  as  Tadoussac  before  the  alarm  reached 
Quebec.  Frontenac  immediately  hastened  to  strengthen  the 
defenses  of  the  place,  which  consisted  of  rude  embankments  of 
timber  and  earth,  and  to  put  it  into  as  good  condition  as  it  was 
possible  for  him  to  do  in  so  short  a  time. 

On  the  16th  of  October  the  squadron,  consisting  of  thirty-four 
vessels  of  different  descriptions,  advanced  as  far  as  Beauport. 
Sir  William  Phipps  immediately  sent  a  flag  of  truce  on  shore  to 
summon  the  town,  to  surrender.  This  was  gallantly  rejected  by 
Frontenac.  This  officer,  who  was  a  man  of  great  pride,  lived  in  the 
castle  of  St.  Louis,  amidst  all  the  splendor  with  which  he  could 
possibly  surround  himself.  Being  resolved  to  astonish  the  Eng 
lish  officer  who  was  sent  on  shore  with  the  flag  of  truce,  he  caused 
him  to  be  met  by  a  French  major,  who  placed  a  bandage 
over  his  eyes,  and  conducted  him  by  a  very  circuitous  route  to 
the  castle.  Every  delusion  was  practiced  to  make  him  believe 
that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  numerous  garrison.  On  arriving  at 
the  castle  the  bandage  was  removed,  and  he  found  himself  in  the 
presence  of  the  Governor-General,  the  Intendant,  the  Bishop,  and  a 
large  staff  of  French  officers  in  full  uniform,  who  were  clustered 
together  in  the  middle  of  the  hall.  With  the  greatest  self-posses 
sion,  the  young  officer  presented  to  Frontenac  a  summons  to  sur 
render,  in  the  name  of  William  and  Mary,  King  and  Queen  of 
England.  Frontenac  gave  a  most  spirited  answer,  refusing  to 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  5? 

acknowledge  any  King  of  England  but  James  II.  The  English 
man  wished  to  have  his  answer  in  writing.  Fronteuac  peremp 
torily  refused,  saying,  "  I  am  going  to  answer  your  master  by  the 
cannon's  mouth.  He  shall  be  taught  this  is  not  the  manner  in 
which  a  person  of  my  rank  ought  to  be  summoned."  The  ban 
dage  being  replaced,  the  officer  was  conducted  with  the  same  mys 
teries  to  his  boat,  and  was  no  sooner  on  board  the  Admiral's  vessel 
than  the  batteries  began  to  play  upon  the  fleet. 

On  the  18th  fifteen  .  hundred  English  troops  landed  near  the 
River  St.  Charles,  but  not  without  sustaining  great  loss  from  the 
constant  fire  kept  up  by  the  French  from  amongst  the  rocks  and 
bushes.  Four  of  the  largest  vessels  were  anchored  opposite  the 
town,  and  commenced  a  bombardment,  but  the  fire  from  the  bat 
teries  was  directed  with  such  effect  as  to  compel  them  to  move  up 
the  river  beyond  Cape  Diamond.  A  sharp  skirmish  took  place 
on  the  19th,  and  on  the  20th  an  action  was  fought,  in  which  the 
French  made  a  gallant  stand  and  compelled  the  English  to  retreat 
to  Beauport,  leaving  their  cannon  and  ammunition.  Two  days 
after  they  reembarked  and  returned  to  Boston. 

Owing  to  the  bad  management  of  Sir  William  Phipps,  this 
expedition  was  attended  with  great  loss  of  life,  seven  or  eight  of 
his  vessels  being  wrecked  in  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  expedition 
against  Montreal  did  not  take  place  at  the  appointed  time,  owing 
to  a  want  of  concert  between  the  parties,  and  Frontenac  was  thus 
enabled  to  concentrate  all  his  strength  and  oppose  the  plans  of 
the  English  with  vigilance  and  success. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


HISTORY  OF  NEW  FRANCE  FROM  THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  FRONTENAC 
TO  ITS  OVERTHROW  BY  THE  ENGLISH  AT  QUEBEC,  IN  1759  —  THE 
BATTLE  OF  QUEBEC  — THE  FALL  OF  WOLFE  AND  MONTCALM  — 
CANADA  CEDED  TO  THE  ENGLISH. 

DURING  the  year  1691  the  Iroquois,  with  the  English  and 
native  allies,  advanced  along  the  Kiver  Sorel  or  Richelieu  to 
attack  Montreal.  De  Caillieres,  a  very  able  officer,  then  held  the 
command  of  that  city.  He  had  assembled  nearly  eight  hundred 
Indians  in  addition  to  his  own  countrymen,  and  the  assailants, 
after  a  very  sharp  contest,  were  obliged  to  retreat.  They  burned 
thirty  houses  and  barns,  and  carried  off  several  prisoners,  whom 
they  put  to  the  most  cruel  torture. 

At  length,  however,  De  Fronteuac,  by  the  unremitting  vigor  of 
his  measures,  secured  the  defense  of  the  colony  so  far  that  in  1692 
the  inhabitants  were  enabled  to  cultivate  their  lands,  and  the  fur 
trade  was  renewed  and  carried  on  with  considerable  advantage. 

In  the  beginning  of  1694,  the  Iroquois  made  overtures  of  peace. 
Two  Onoudagos  arrived  at  Montreal,  and  asked  the  Governor  if 
certain  deputies,  who  were  on  their  way,  would  be  received. 
Though  they  Avere  answered  in  the  affirmative,  several  months 
elapsed  before  they  appeared.  They  were  well  received,  and 
brought  several  belts  with  them,  one  of  which  expressed  the  most 
friendly  disposition,  and  solicited  the  restoration  of  the  fort  at 
Cataraqui. 

On  their  return  home,  Oureonhare  accompanied  them.  When 
he  came  back,  he  brought  with  him  several  persons  of  distinction, 
who  had  been  long  held  in  captivity  by  the  Indians.  Though  the 
first  belts  brought  by  the  deputies  were  friendly,  the  others  were 
obscure,  and  all  attempts  to  obtain  an  explanation  were  fruitless. 
All  that  was  contemplated  merely  seemed  to  be  "  to  suspend  the 
hatchet."  The  Count  rejected  all  the  belts  except  one,  declaring 


filSTORY   OF   MlCHiGAtf.  59 

that,  unless  more  friendly  sentiments  were  entertained,  he  could 
not  long  suspend  the  threatened  blow. 

Unwilling  to  come  to  an  open  rupture  with  a  people  who  could 
muster  three  thousand  warriors,  he  endeavored  to  gain  time.  In 
the  meanwhile,  he  reestablished  the  fort  at  Cataraqui,  and 
strengthened  the  outposts,  intending  in  the  summer  to  commence 
more  active  measures. 

At  length,  in  June,  1696,  all  the  forces  that  could  be  mustered 
at  Cataraqui  marched  into  the  canton  of  Onondago.  On  reaching 
a  lake,  they  found  suspended  from  a  tree  two  bundles  of  rushes, 
which  intimated  that  fourteen  hundred  and  thirty-four  warriors 
were  waiting  to  engage  them.  They  sailed  across  the  lake  immedi 
ately,  and  formed  themselves  in  regular  order  of  battle,  expecting 
to  engage  their  enemies.  De  Caillieres  commanded  the  left  wing, 
the  Chevalier  de  Vaudreuil  the  right,  and  De  Frontenac,  then 
seventy-six  years  of  age,  was  carried  in  the  centre  in  an  elbow- 
chair.  The  Five  Nations,  however,  did  not  appear,  and  their 
principal  fortress  was  found  reduced  to  ashes.  It  soon,  indeed, 
became  evident  that  the  Indians  had  determined  to  let  them 
march  through  their  country  unmolested. 

The  Oneidas  sent  deputies  to  Frontenac,  but  he  would  accept 
nothing  short  of  unconditional  surrender.  De  Vaudreuil  marched 
into  their  country  and  laid  it  waste.  It  had  been  determined  to 
treat  the  Cayugas  in  the  same  manner,  but  the  Count  returned 
rather  suddenly  to  Montreal,  for  which  the  French  writers  severely 
censure  him.  He  might,  it  is  thought,  have  completely  humbled 
the  Iroquois  at  this  time.  He  could  not,  however,  be  prevailed 
upon  to  destroy  the  canton  of  the  Goyoquins  (or  Cayugas),  of 
which  his  friend  Oureonhare  was  chief. 

The  shameful  manner  in  which  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French 
were  treated  with  regard  to  their  chief  source  of  wealth,  the  fur 
trade,  gave  continual  cause  of  complaint  and  discontent.  This 
traffic  was  carried  on  by  an  adventurous  but  desperate  race,  called 
"coureurs  des  bois"  It  was  a  strict  monopoly,  the  merchants 
fitting  out  the  coureurs  with  canoes  and  merchandise,  and  reaping 
profits  so  ample  that  furs  to  the  value  of  8,000  crowns  were  pro 
cured  by  the  French  for  1,000  crowns. 


60  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  found  out  the  true  value  of  their  com 
modities,  they  made  loud  and  incessant  complaints.  In  order  to 
conciliate  them,  it  was  proposed  that  they  should  bring  their  own 
furs  and  dispose  of  them  at  Montreal.  The  Governor,  however, 
and  the  other  members  of  the  administration,  objected  that  this 
would  bring  the  Indian  allies  from  the  retirement  of  their  forests 
into  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Five  Nations  and  of  the 
British ;  and  they  dreaded  that,  while  the  profits  of  the  fur  trade 
would  be  lost,  a  general  confederation  of  the  tribes  might  be 
eifected. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Iroquois  continued  the  war  with  vigor, 
though  both  they  and  the  English  began  to  wish  for  peace. 
Negotiations  were,  however,  entered  into  with  them  through 
Oureonbare",  in  whom  Frontenac  placed  great  and  deserved  confi 
dence,  but  his  sudden  death  at  Quebec  retarded  them.  Their 
success  was,  however,  secured  by  the  treaty  of  peace  signed  at 
Ryswick,  September  15,  1697,  and  the  English  and  French  Gov 
ernors  mutually  entered  into  arrangements  for  maintaining 
harmony  among  the  Indians.  The  anxious  desire  manifested  by 
both  nations  to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  Iroquois  flattered 
that  bold  and  deceitful  people,  and  gave  them  an  exalted  opinion 
of  themselves.  The  object  of  both  the  French  and  English 
should  have  been  to  diminish  their  power,  but  this  rather  tended 
to  increase  their  consequence  and  conceit. 

Soon  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  Louis  Count  de  Frontenac 
died,  in  the  seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age,  upwards  of  twenty  of 
which  he  had  spent  in  Canada.  His  great  personal  abilities  pre 
served  this  colony  to  France,  and  always  secured  to  him  the 


GOVERNOR  J.  J.  BAGLEY.     . 

JOHN  J.  BAGLEY,  the  present  Governor  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  was 
born  July  24th,  1832,  in  Orleans  County,  New  York.  His  father  settled 
in  St.  Joseph  County,  in  this  State,  1840,  where  Mr.  Bagley  received  a 
common  school  education.  In  1846  he  removed  to  Shiawassee  County, 
and  in  1847  to  Detroit.  He  served  his  time  at  the  tobacco  trade  with 
Isaac  8.  Miller.  In  1853  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself,  and  is  still 
conducting  it. 

Mr.  Bagley  has  held  various  positions  of  public  trust  in  the  city  gov- 


GOVERNOR  JOHN  J.  BAGLEY. 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN.  bd 

confidence  of  the  King,  the  respect  of  his  officers  and  the  esteem 
of  the  Indians.  He  was  buried  in  the  Recollect  church  at 
Quebec,  which  formerly  stood  near  the  site  of  the  present  English 
cathedral.  The  only  memorial  of  him  now  to  be  found  in  the 
city  is  in  the  street  called  from  his  family  name  Buade  street. 

Frontenac  was  succeeded  by  De  Callieres,  who  had  been  for 
some  time  Governor  of  Montreal.  He  administered  the  affairs  of 
the  colony  with  more  steadiness  and  prudence,  and  with  equal 
vigor  and  address,  and  in  1700  effected  a  general  pacification 
among  the  Indian  tribes.  Upon  the  exchange  of  prisoners  which 
took  place  at  this  period,  a  most  surprising  and  mortifying  fact 
transpired.  The  natives  early  sought  their  homes ;  the  greater 
part  of  the  French  captives,  however,  were  found  to  have  con 
tracted  such  an  attachment  to  the  wild  freedom  of  the  woods,  that 
neither  the  commands  of  the  King  nor  the  entreaties  of  their 
friends  could  induce  them  to  quit  their  Indian  associates. 

Peace  had  scarcely  been  concluded  between  the  savage  tribes, 
when  it  was  broken  by  their  civilized  neighbors.  The  succession 
of  Philip  of  Anjou  to  the  throne  of  Spain  gave  rise  to  a  long  and 
eventful  war  between  France  and  Spain.  It  was  begun  by  Louis 
XIV  with  every  prospect  of  giving  law  to  all  Europe.  Instead 
of  this,  the  exploits  of  the  great  Marlborough  and  Prince  Eugene, 
and  the  fields  of  Blenheim  and  Ramilies,  reduced  him  to  the 
lowest  condition,  and  at  one  time  seemed  to  place  his  throne 
in  peril.  The  French  colonists  were  thus  left  to  their  own 
resources,  while  England  conceived  the  bold  design  of  uniting 
within  her  territory  the  whole  of  North  America. 

The  lamented  death  of  De  Callieres,  its  able  Governor,  placed 
Canada  in  a  critical  state,  and  endangered  the  French  power  in 
the  colony. 

eminent  of  Detroit,  and  in  1873  was  Park  Commissioner,  Vice-President 
of  the  American  National  Bank,  President  of  the  Detroit  Safe  Company, 
Director  of  the  Wayne  County  Savings  Bank,  Novelty  Works,  Detroit 
Fire  and  Marine  Insurance  Company,  and  Michigan  Mutual  Life  Insur 
ance  Company. 

In  the  summer  of  1872  Mr.  Bagley  was  nominated  by  the  Kepublican 
State  Convention  for  Governor,  and  was  elected  by  a  large  majority. 


64  C4ENEEAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

The  Count  de  Vaudreuil,  who  succeeded,  proved  himself  worthy 
of  his  high  office,  and  for  several  years  managed  to  prevent  the 
colonists  from  being  molested,  and  to  cherish  the  trade  and  culti 
vation  of  the  country.  In  1708  he  carried  warlike  operations  into 
the  British  frontier  settlements,  having  previously  negotiated  for 
the  neutrality  of  the  Iroquois,  who  were  flattered  by  being  treated 
as  an  independent  power.  Little  success,  however,  attended  these 
operations,  and  he  was  soon  compelled  again  to  resume  a  defensive 
position. 

The  persecutions  of  the  Protestants  in  France  caused  at  this 
time  a  religious  animosity  to  be  added  to  the  hatred  entertained 
towards  the  French.  This  unfortunately  encouraged  a  spirit  of 
discord  amongst  the  colonists  themselves.  A  people  like  the  New 
Englanders,  who  had  themselves  but  just  escaped  from  persecu 
tion,  could  not  look  with  indifference  upon  their  persecuted  French 
Protestant  brethren.  Some  of  the  persons  in  power  amongst 
them,  however,  did  not  sympathize  in  this  sentiment,  and  estrange 
ment  from  each  other  and  opposition  to  authority  increased  daily. 

During  all  the  changes  which  took  place  in  the  colonies,  it  is 
surprising  how  the  Iroquois  contrived  to  preserve  their  neutrality, 
as  they  had  it  in  their  power  to  gain  information  on  both  sides. 
The  court  that  was  paid  to  them  by  both  powers  probably  fostered 
in  them  habits  of  dissimulation.  When  the  English  called  the  Five 
Nations  to  assist  them  against  the  French,  they  showed  the  great 
est  unwillingness.  They  alleged  that  "when  they  concluded  a 
treaty  they  intended  to  keep  it,  but  that  the  Europeans  seemed  to 
enter  into  such  engagements  solely  for  the  purpose  of  breaking 
them ;"  and  one  old  chief,  with  the  rude  freedom  of  his  country, 
intimated  that  "  the  nations  were  both  drunk." 

In  1709  a  person  of  the  name  of  Vetch  laid  before  the  court  of 
Queen  Anne  a  plan  for  the  conquest  of  Canada,  and  was  supplied 
with  authority  and  resources,  supposed  to  be  sufficient  for  its 
accomplishment.  The  English  forces  which  had  been  destined 
for  the  St.  Lawrence  were,  however,  required  in  Portugal,  and 
thus  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  had  time  to  make  better  prepara 
tions  for  defense. 

The  British  in  the  meantime  had  occupied  Lakes  George  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


65 


Champlain,  and  erected  forts.  But  the  Iroquois  treacherously 
deceived  them,  and  attempted  to  poison  the  water  they  drank. 
They  immediately  abandoned  the  enterprise  and  returned  to  New 
York,  after  burning  their  canoes  and  reducing  their  forts  to  ashes. 


GOVERNOR  H.  P.  BALDWIN. 

AMONG  the  numerous  citizens  of  Michigan,  who,  from  very  small 
beginnings,  by  honest  perseverance  have  accumulated  wealth  and  local 
fame,  ex-Governor  Baldwin  stands  very  prominent.  He  was  born  in 
Coventry,  R  I.,  February,  1814,  and  was  left  an  orphan  boy  at  the  ten 
der  age  of  eleven  years,  his  parents  having  died  previous  to  1825.  At  the 
age  of  twelve  he  secured  a  position  in  a  mercantile  house  near  his  native 
town,  in  which  situation  he  remained  eight  years.  In  those  days  salaries 
were  small,  consequently,  Mr.  Baldwin  was  unable  to  lay  by  very  much; 
but  to  say  that  he  had  not,  during  those  eight  years,  accumulated  a  capi- 
5 


66  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Canada  now  enjoyed  a  short  interval  of  repose,  though  it  was 
understood  that  the  English  were  making  active  preparations  for 
a  fresh  expedition,  and  were  sparing  no  pains  to  secure  the  cooper 
ation  of  the  Five  Nations.  At  this  time  the  French  were 
engaged  in  a  desperate  struggle  with  an  Indian  nation  called  the 
Outagamis  or  Foxes.  These  people,  who  dwelt  in  the  upper  terri 
tory,  were  at  last  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  humbly  soliciting 
terms  of  peace,  but  the  French  were  persuaded  by  their  savage 
auxiliaries  to  push  matters  to  the  last  extremity,  and  this  unfor 
tunate  tribe  was  nearly  exterminated. 

A  combined  land  and  sea  expedition  against  Canada  took  place 
in  1711.  This  expedition  was  shamefully  managed,  and  the  Brit 
ish  fleet,  owing  to  tempestuous  weather  and  ignorance  of  the 
coast,  met  with  so  many  disasters  that  it  was  obliged  to  return  to 
Boston.  They  lost,  at  the  Seven  Islands  near  the  mouth  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  in  one  day,  eight  vessels  and  eight  hundred  and 
eighty-four  officers,  soldiers  and  seamen. 

tal  that  is  more  precious  than  gold,  would  be  contradictory  with  the  fol 
lowing  circumstances.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  left  this  situation,  and, 
entirely  without  capital  of  his  own,  began  business  for  himself.  Thus 
will  be  seen  Mr.  Baldwin  had  already  established  himself  in  the  confi 
dence  and  esteem  of  the  people  of  his  own  native  State. 

In  1838  Mr.  Baldwin's  keen  penetration  had  foreseen  the  near  future  of 
lake  commerce,  as  guaranteed  by  the  rapid  development  of  the  North 
west,  and  he  hastened  to  the  scene  of  pioneer  life.  Having  removed  to 
Detroit,  he  immediately  resumed  mercantile  pursuits.  Success  followed 
the  effort,  and  has  continuously  attended  all  his  business  operations, 
which  have  increased  to  considerable  magnitude.  He  has  taken  an  active 
interest  in  many  of  the  leading  enterprises  of  Michigan,  most  of  which 
have  vigorously  advanced  the  growth,  prosperity  and  honor  of  the  State. 
Prominent  among  these  is  the  Second  National  Bank  of  Detroit.  This 
institution  commenced  business  in  1863  with  a  capital  of  $500,000,  which 
was  increased  in  1865  to  81,000,000,  and  has  been  one  of  the  most  suc 
cessful  enterprises  of  the  West,  having  already  accumulated  a  surplus 
fund  of  $600,000.  Mr.  Baldwin  was  its  first  president,  and  has  continued 
to  hold  that  responsible  position  during  its  whole  career  to  the  present 
time. 

In  relation  to  his  political  life,  he  has  rather  declined  than  sought  after 
office  or  emolument.  He  was  a  staunch  Whig  when  that  party  existed, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  67 

The  restoration  of  peace  between  France  and  England,  by  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  took  place  in  1713,  by  which  France  retained 
Canada,  but  ceded  Acadia  and  Newfoundland,  and  made  over  to 
Great  Britain  all  her  claims  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  Five 
Nations.  This  once  more  left  the  colony  an  interval  of  rest, 
which  lasted  ten  years,  during  which  her  trade  and  resources  were 
greatly  increased.  The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  availed  himself  of 
the  peace  to  strengthen  the  fortifications  of  Quebec  and  Montreal ; 
the  training  of  the  military,  amounting  to  5,000  in  a  population 
of  25,000,  was  carefully  attended  to,  and  barracks  were  con 
structed.  An  assessment  was  levied  on  the  inhabitants,  for  the 
support  of  the  troops  and  the  erection  of  fortifications.  During 
the  remainder  of  M.  de  Vaudreuil's  administration,  which  was 
terminated  by  his  death  in  1726,  the  province  prospered  under  his 
vigilant,  firm  and  just  government. 

The  death  of  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  in  1726,  was  deserv 
edly  lamented  by  the  Canadians.  He  was  succeeded,  in  1726,  by 

and  became  as  firm  a  Republican  at  the  organization  of  that  party.  He 
was  twice  nominated  by  his  party  to  the  mayoralty  of  Detroit,  and  in 
1860  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate.  His  career  in  the  Senate  was 
marked  with  considerable  ability.  He  was  chosen  Chairman  of  the 
Finance  Committee  of  the  Senate,  of  the  Joint  Finance  Committee  of  the 
two  Houses,  and  of  the  Joint  Committee  for  investigating  into  the  condi 
tion  of  the  State  Treasury  and  the  defalcation  of  John  McKinney.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  when  the  Legislature  met  in  1861  the  State 
Treasury  was  without  funds,  the  Treasurer  being  charged  as  a  defaulter, 
and  the  State  finances  being  in  a  most  embarrassed  condition.  Senator 
Baldwin  made  a  most  thorough  examination  of  the  department,  and 
embodied  in  his  report  to  the  Legislature  a  complete  statement  setting 
forth  the  irregularities  by  which  the  difficulty  had  been  incurred,  and 
suggesting  plans  whereby  the  State  finances  could  be  advantageously 
regulated  and  sustained  in  good  condition.  The  report  and  measures 
recommended  by  Mr.  Baldwin  were  adopted,  and  have  been  the  basis  of 
the  successful  management  of  the  State  finances  up  to  the  present  time. 
In  1804  Senator  Baldwin's  name  was  brought  forward  spontaneously 
by  the  people  for  the  distinguished  office  of  Governor  of  Michigan.  *  At 
the  State  Convention  of  that  year  his  nomination  was  defeated  by  a  single 
vote.  Had  he  even  signified  a  desire  to  reach  the  gubernatorial  chair,  it 
is  generally  believed  that  he  would  have  been  unanimously  chosen  by  the 


68  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  Marquis  de  Beauharnois.  His  ambitious  administration 
excited  greatly  the  alarm  of  the  English  colonists  of  New  York 
and  New  England. 

Beauharnois  continued  in  power  twenty  years,  and  diligently 
employed  himself  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  colony.  He 
planned  an  enterprise  to  cross  America  to  the  South  Sea,  which 
did  .not  succeed.  He  erected  also  the  important  fort  at  Crown 
Point,  on  Lake  Champlain,  with  several  other  forts  at  different 
places,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping  the  English  within  the  Alle- 
ghany  Mountains,  and  preventing  their  approach  to  the  lakes, 
the  St.  Lawrence,  the  Mississippi,  and  their  tributary  streams. 

The  war  between  Great  Britain  and  France  led  to  the  reduction 
of  Cape  Breton  in  1745,  by  a  British  naval  and  military  force, 
assisted  by  the  provincial  troops  of  the  New  England  colonies. 
The  successful  battle  of  Fontenoy,  in  Europe,  however,  roused  the 
martial  spirit  of  the  Canadians  to  attempt  the  re-conquest  of 
Nova  Scotia,  in  1746  and  1747,  in  which  they  failed,  and  the 

Convention,  but,  having  not  even  sanctioned  the  voice  of  the  people,  his 
nomination  was  carelessly  though  scarcely  defeated. 

In  1866  he  was  earnestly  pressed  to  allow  his  name  to  be  placed  before 
the  Republican  Convention  for  the  same  honorable  office,  but,  as  it  had 
been  customary  to  renominate  the  Governor  for  a  second  term,  he 
declined  absolutely.  Notwithstanding  this,  he  received  more  than  sixty 
votes  at  that  time. 

In  1868  he  received  the  nomination  of  his  party  for  the  high  office  of 
Governor,  and  was  elected  by  the  largest  majority  which,  at  that  time, 
had  ever  been  given  for  a  Governor  of  Michigan.  In  1870  he  was  nomi 
nated  by  acclamation,  and  reelected.  In  1872  he  was  again  strongly 
pressed  to  accept  the  nomination,  but  positively  refused*  and,  in  a  letter 
addressed  to  the  Republican  Convention  of  that  year,  requested  that  no 
votes  should  be  cast  for  him. 

Thus  I  have  given,  in  a  very  concise  manner,  the  most  prominent  fea 
tures  of  Governor  Baldwin's  life.  In  point  of  perseverance,  purity  or 
accomplishment,  its  estimation  is  enhanced  by  comparison.  No  stain 
mars  the  pages  of  his  short  history  of  success.  Pie  came  forth  from  the 
obscurity  of  a  humble  orphan  boy,  and,  through  his  own  honest  persever 
ance,  unaided  by  naught  save  that  which  integrity,  energy  and  affability 
merits,  accumulated  much  wealth,  and  won  a  public  name  unblemished 
by  coarse  associations. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


treaty  of  Aix  la  Chapelle,  in  1748,  suspended  further  hostilities. 
Commissioners  were  then  appointed  to  settle  a  boundary  line 
between  the  British  and  French  territories  in  North  America. 
The  Canadian  government  immediately  proceeded  to  survey  the 


HON.  FREDERICK  L.  WELLS, 

FREDERICK  L.  WELLS,  the  present  Senator  in  the  State  Legislature  for 
the  Twenty-second  Senatorial  District,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Stanford, 
Duchess  county,  New  York,  on  the  24th  of  March,  1833,  and  emigrated 
to  Michigan  in  October,  1838,  taking  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Port 
Huron,  where  he  now  resides.  This  trip,  at  that  early  time  of  railroads, 
consumed  nearly  a  week,  Mr.  Wells  traveling  on  the  New  York  Central 
from  Albany  to  Fonda,  which  at  that  time  comprised  the  whole  length 
of  that  road.  From  the  latter  place  to  Buffalo  the  passage  was  made  on 


70  GENERAL   HISTORY    OP   THE   STATES. 

projected  line  of  demarcation,  with  a  great  display  of  military 
pomp,  calculated  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the  Indians  the  idea 
that  France  would  assert  her  rights  to  the  limits  marked.  Leaden 
plates,  bearing  the  arms  of  France,  were  sunk  at  such  distances 
upon  this  line  as  the  Canadian  Governor,  in  his  liberality,  pleased 
to  assign  to  England,  and  the  whole  ceremony  was  conducted  with 
much  formality.  Such  an  imprudent  step  seriously  alarmed  the 
Indians,  and  terminated  in  their  active  cooperation  with  the 
English,  for  the  utter  expulsion  of  the  French  from  North 
America. 

About  this  time  a  royal  edict  directed  that  no  country  houses 
should  be  built  but  on  farms  of  one  acre  and  a  half  in  front  and 
forty  back.  This  law  had  the  effect  of  confining  the  population 
along  the  banks  of  the  river,  and  the  Avhole  shore,  from  Quebec 
to  Montreal,  was  soon  settled  with  cultivated  farms.  A  favorable 
change  took  place,  too,  in  the  fur  trade,  and  a  more  liberal  and 
equitable  system  appears  to  have  been  adopted.  A  large  annual 
fair  was  opened  at  Montreal,  under  judicious  regulations,  and 
became  the  general  centre  of  the  trade. 

The  Count  de  Galissoniere,  a  nobleman  of  great  acquirements, 
succeeded  M.  de  Beauharnois  in  1747.  He  was  superseded  by  the 
Sieur  de  la  Jonquiere  in  1749,  who  was  superseded  temporarily 
by  the  Baron  de  Longueuil,  until  the  arrival  of  the  Marquis  du 
Quesne  as  Governor-General  in  1752. 

a  canal  boat,  and  at  Buffalo  he  embarked  on  the  steamboat  "James 
Madison"  for  Port  Huron,  which  boat  was  then  considered  first-class. 
Upon  his  arrival  at  Port  Huron,  he  found  that  the  Indians  were  more 
numerous  than  the  whites  ;  and  in  his  younger  day  he  has  often  seen  the 
former  participating  in  the  "savage  war  dance"  in  the  center  of  the 
city,  where  now  lie  Huron  avenue  and  Military  street.  He  soon  formed 
an  admiration  for  the  beautiful  forest  scenes  surrounding  his  new  home, 
and  from  early  boyhood  took  a  great  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  town. 
By  his  rigid  honesty,  indomitable  energy,  and  rare  business  qualifications, 
he  soon  rose  to  the  front  rank  among  his  townsmen. 

Although  Mr.  Wells  has  never  sought  political  honors,  still  his  towns 
men  have  see'n  fit  to  acknowledge  their  appreciation  of  his  abilities  by 
electing  him  to  a  large  number  of  important  official  positions.  In  1855 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Village  Recorder,  and  again,  in  1857,  he 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  71 

Du  Quesne  appears,  more  openly  than  any  other  governor,  to 
have  carried  on  the  system  of  encroaching  on  the  British  Colonies. 
So  far  did  he  proceed  that  the  fort  at  Pittsburg,  bearing  his  name, 
was  erected  within  the  confines  of  Virginia. 

The  British  immediately  erected  another  in  the  immediate 
vicinity,  which  they  quaintly  termed  Necessity.  To  this  a  garrison 
was  dispatched,  from  Virginia,  under  the  command  of  George 
Washington,  whose  name  afterward  became  so  illustrious,  and 
who  then  held  a  lieutenant-colonel's  commission  in  the  British 
army.  Washington,  on  his  march  to  assume  the  command  of 
Fort  Necessity,  was  met  by  a  party  from  Fort  Du  Quesne,  under 
M.  de  Jumonville,  who  peremptorily  forbade  the  English  to  pro 
ceed  further.  The  mandate  was  answered  by  a  burst  of  indigna 
tion  and  a  volley  of  musketry,  which  killed  Jumonville  and  sev 
eral  of  his  men.  The  French  at  Fort  du  Quesne,  however, 
quickly  commenced  offensive  hostilities,  invested  Necessity,  and 
obliged  Washington  to  capitulate. 

A  great  alarm  was  now  spread  through  the  English  settlements, 
and  a  plan  of  common  defense  was  brought  forward,  in  a  conven 
tion  held  at  Albany  in  July,  1754.  At  this  meeting  Benjamin 
Franklin  proposed  a  general  union  of  the  colonies,  to  resist  the 
French.  Though  not  then  acted  upon,  this  document  was  the 
basis  of  the  federal  union  subsequently  formed  for  the  overthrow 
of  the  British  dominion  in  the  United  States. 


was  chosen  for  the  same  position.  In  1859  he  was  elected  City  Clerk, 
and  was  reelected  to  the  same  office  the  two  following  years.  He  was 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  Department  during  the  year  1862,  and  in 
1863  was  chosen  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  has  also  held  the  office  of  Alder 
man  for  three  terms  of  two  years  each,  which  makes  him  a  city  officer  of 
thirteen  years'  standing.  After  a  spirited  contest,  in  1870,  Mr.  Wells 
was  elected  to  represent  the  Second  District  of  St.  Clair  county  in  the 
State  Legislature.  He  filled  this  position  so  well  that  the  people  of  St. 
Clair  county  elected  him  to  represent  them  as  Senator  in  the  Legislature 
of  1872-3.  He  was  a  member  of  the  standing  committees  of  the  Senate — 
lumber  interests,  asylum  for  deaf,  dumb  and  blind,  and  State  capitol  and 
public  buildings,  being  chairman  of  the  first  mentioned — where  he  zeal 
ously  looked  after  the  interests  of  the  State,  performing  a  large  amount 
of  arduous  labor. 


72  GENERAL   HISTORY    OP   THE   STATES. 

England  was  at  this  time  preparing  for  an  open  war  with 
France,  which  the  ambition  of  Frederick  of  Prussia,  and  the  state 
of  Europe,  soon  rendered  general.  A  strong  fleet  with  troops, 
was  despatched  from  France  to  reinforce  Quebec ;  an  English 
fleet  pursued  it,  but  succeeded  in  capturing  only  two  frigates,  with 
the  engineers  and  troops  on  board,  on  the  banks  of  Newfound 
land. 

The  Marquis  de  Quesne  having  resigned,  was  succeeded  by  the 
Sieur  de  Vaudreuil,  the  last  French  governor  in  Canada,  in  1755. 
This  administration  was  auspiciously  opened  by  the  defeat  of 
the  brave  but  rash  General  Braddock,  in  one  of  the  defiles  of  the 
Alleghany  Mountains.  Braddock,  unaccustomed  to  Indian  war 
fare,  neglected  every  precaution  of  scouts  and  outposts,  and 
refused  to  make  proper  preparations  for  the  meeting  of  the  French 
and  their  Indian  allies.  When  the  British  entered  a  gorge  where 
retreat  was  impossible,  they  poured  upon  them,  from  their  ambus 
cades,  a  deadly  fire,  under  which  numbers  of  the  unfortunate  sol 
diers  fell.  Braddock  himself  was  killed,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  army  was  saved  only  by  the  intrepidity  of  Colonel  George 
Washington,  who  now,  for  the  first  time,  distinguished  himself, 
and  won  back  the  laurels  he  had  lost  at  Fort  Necessity. 

These  troops  having  afterward  joined  the  provincial  force  under 
Generals  Johnson,  Lyman  and  Shirly,  repulsed  an  attack  made 
by  the  French  under  Baron  Dieskau.  After  a  battle  of  four 
hours'  duration  the  French  retreated  to  Crown  Point,  with  a  loss 

Mr.  Wells  has  also  taken  a  great  interest  in  Free  Masonry,  having 
received  all  the  degrees  to  the  "  S.  P.  R.  S.,"  thirty-second  degree  of  the 
A.  &  A.  Scottish  rite.  He  has  held  many  important  offices  in  the  lodge 
of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  has  been  Worshipful  Master  of  the  Port 
Huron  Lodge,  No.  58,  for  five  years ;  High  Priest  of  Huron  Chapter, 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  for  two  years,  and  has  held  for  the  past  year,  and 
still  holds,  the  office  of  Eminent  Commander  of  the  Port  Huron  Com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templar. 

For  the  past  nineteen  years,  and  at  present,  he  is  extensively  engaged 
in  the  manufacturing  of  lumber.  He  is  also  a  partner  in  the  banking 
house  of  John  Johnston  &  Co.,  Port  Huron. 

In  all  the  positions  Mr.  Wells  has  held  he  has  performed  his  duties 
faithfully,  and  exhibited  a  large  amount  of  business  tact. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


73 


of  one  ^thousand  men  and  the  capture  ^of  their  leader,  who  was 
severely  wounded. 

This  success  restored  the  drooping  spirits  of  the  British  army, 
and  these  battles  helped  to  train  the  colonists  for  those  contests 


HON.  ELIHU  L.  CLARK. 

ELIHU  L.  CLARK,  President  of  the  Lenawee  County  Savings  Bank,  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  New  York,  on  the  18th  of  July,  1811.  Both  of 
his  grandfathers  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  one  on  his  father's 
side  being  one  of  Washington's  Rangers,  and  the  one  on  his  mother's  side 
being  in  active  service  at  the  battles  of  Monmouth,  Princeton  and  a  num 
ber  of  others. 

Mr.  Clark  remained  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born  until  he  was  nine 
teen  years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  the  village  of  Palmyra,  in  the  same 
county,  and  served  as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store  for  one  year.  After- 


74  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

which  they  were  to  wage  with  those  very  men  by  whose  side  they 
now  fought  hand  to  hand  against  the  French.  Little  did  Wash 
ington  then  contemplate  the  destiny  that  awaited  him. 

France,  now  fully  aware  of  the  importance  of  Canada,  sent  out 
a  chosen  body  of  troops,  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  and 
experienced  Marquis  de  Montcalm.  He  obtained  a  series  of  suc 
cesses,  terminating  by  the  reduction  of  the  important  British  forts 
at  Oswego,  and  Fort  Edward,  near  Lake  George.  This  victory 
was  stained  by  the  barbarous  murder  of  near  two  thousand  Eng 
lish  prisoners,  by  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French.  This  monstrous 
deed  completely  roused  the  indignation  of  the  English,  and  led  to 
those  mighty  preparations  which  finally  destroyed  the  power  of 
France  in  America. 

As  some  compensation  for  these  losses,  the  fortified  and  garri 
soned  town  of  Louisburg,  in  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  was  taken 
in  the  most  gallant  manner  by  the  English  army  under  General 
Amherst  and  Brigadier-General  Wolfe,  the  future  conqueror  of 
Canada.  In  1758  Fort  Frontenac,  near  Kingston,  and  Fort  Du 
Quesne,  near  the  Ohio  river,  were  captured  by  the  colonists. 

The  campaign  of  1759  was  opened  with  a  plan  of  combined 
operations  by  sea  and  land.  Canada  was  to  be  invaded  at  three 
different  points  by  Generals  of  high  talent.  The  commander-in- 
chief,  General  Amherst,  undertook  the  reduction  of  the  forts  at 
Crown  Point  and  Ticonderoga.  He  was  to  cross  Lake  Champlain, 
and,  proceeding  along  the  Richelieu,  was  to  reach  the  St.  Law 
rence  and  join  the  other 'army  before  Quebec.  The  force  destined 
to  proceed  by  sea  to  Quebec  was  under  the  command  of  the  heroic 
General  Wolfe.  General  Prideaux,  with  another  army  and  a 


wards  he  was  the  owner  of  a  mercantile  establishment  in  the  same  town 
for  two  years.  In  September,  1834,  he  married  Miss  Isabella  T.  Bean, 
and  in  June  of  the  following  year  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  at  once 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  remained  until  1848.  In 
the  autumn  of  that  year  he  was  elected  a  Representative  in  the  Legisla 
ture  of  Michigan  from  Lenawee  County,  being  the  only  Whig  in  the 
Legislature  from  that  county  of  five  Representative  districts.  From 
that  time  until  1870  he  has  been  engaged  in  a  private  banking  and  bro 
kerage  business,  accumulating  considerable  wealth.  In  1870,  upon  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  75 

large  body  of  friendly  Indians,  under  Sir  William  Johnson,  was 
appointed  to  reduce  the  fort  at  Niagara. 

Wolfe's  army,  amounting  to  about  eight  thousand  men,  was 
conveyed  to  the  vicinity  of  Quebec  by  a  fleet  of  vessels  of  war  and 
transports,  and  landed  in  two  divisions  on  the  island  of  Orleans, 
on  the  27th  of  June.  The  Marquis  de  Montcalm  made  vigorous 
preparations  for  defending  Quebec.  His  armed  force  consisted  of 
about  thirteen  thousand  men,  of  whom  six  battalions  were  regulars 
and  the  remainder  well  disciplined  Canadian  militia,  with  some 
cavalry  and  Indians.  He  ranged  these  forces  from  the  river  St. 
Charles  to  the  Falls  of  Montmorency,  with  the  view  of  opposing 
the  landing  of  the  British. 

Wolfe  first  attempted  the  entrenchment  of  Montmorency,  land 
ing  his  troops  under  cover  of  the  fire  from  the  ships  of  war,  but 
was  gallantly  repulsed  by  the  French.  In  consequence  of  this 
repulse  he  sent  dispatches  to  England,  stating  that  he  had  doubts 
of  being  able  to  reduce  Quebec  during  that  campaign.  His  pros 
pects,  indeed,  were  not  encouraging.  The  great  stronghold  kept 
up  an  incessant  fire  from  its  almost  inaccessible  position,  bristling 
with  guns,  defended  by  a  superior  force,  and  inhabited  by  a  hostile 
population.  Above  the  city  steep  banks  rendered  landing  almost 
impossible ;  below  the  country  for  eight  miles  was  embarrassed  by 
two  rivers,  many  redoubts  and  watchful  Indians.  A  part  of  the 
fleet  lay  above  the  town,  and  the  remainder  in  the  north  channel, 
between  the  island  of  Orleans  and  Montmorency. 

Soon  after  this  repulse,  however,  Wolfe  roused  his  brave  and 
vigorous  spirit,  called  a  council  of  war,  and  proposed,  it  is  gener 
ally  said  at  the  instigation  of  his  second  in  command,  General 

organization  of  the  Lenawee  County  Savings  Bank,  he  was  chosen 
President  of  that  corporation,  which  office  he  still  holds,  performing  the 
duties  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  stockholders  and  depositors  in  the 
bank. 

During  the  late  civil  war,  Mr.  Clark  was  an  active  supporter  of  the 
Union  cause,  and  did  much  for  the  Michigan  soldiers.  One  of  his  sons 
sacrificed  his  life  in  defense  of  the  nation.  Mr.  Clark  is  well  known 
throughout  Lenawee  and  the  adjoining  counties,  and  is  held  in  very  high 
esteem. 


76  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Townsend,  to  gain  the  Heights  of  Abraham  behind  and  above  the 
city,  commanding  the  weakest  part  of  the  fortress.  The  council 
acceded  to  this  daring  proposal,  and  their  heroic  commander  com 
menced  his  preparations,  in  the  meanwhile  making  such  active 
demonstrations  against  Montcalm's  position  that  the  French  still 
believed  it  to  be  his  main  object. 

On  the  llth  of  September  the  greater  part  of  the  troops  landed 
and  marched  up  the  south  shore  opposite  Quebec,  forded  the  river 
Etchemin,  and  embarked  on  board  the  men-of-war  and  transports 
which  lay  above  the  town.  On  the  12th  the  ships  of  war  sailed 
nine  miles  up  the  river  to  Cap  Rouge.  This  feint  deceived  Mont- 
calm,  and  he  detached  DeBougainville,  who  with  his  army  of 
reserve  proceeded  still  farther  up  the  river,  to  prevent  the  English 
from  landing.  During  the  night  the  English  troops  dropped 
silently  down  the  river  with  the  current  in  boats,  and  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning  began  to  land. 

It  is  surprising  how  the  troops  contrived  to  laud,  as  the  French 
had  posted  sentries  along  the  shore  to  challenge  boats  and  give  the 
alarm.  The  first  boat  was  questioned,  when  Captain  Donald 
McDonald,  one  of  Frazer's  Highlanders,  who  was  perfectly  well 
acquainted  with  the  French  language  and  customs,  answered  to 
"  Qui  vive?"  which  is  their  challenge,  the  word,  "La  France." 
When  the  sentinel  demanded,  "  A  quel  regiment/"  the  captain 
replied,  " De  la  Reine"  which  he  knew  by  accident  to  be  one  of 
those  commanded  by  DeBougainville.  The  soldier  took  it  for 
granted  that  it  was  an  expected  convoy,  and  saying  "  Passe,"  the 
boats  proceeded  without  further  question.  One  of  the  sentries, 
more  wary  than  the  rest,  running  down  to  the  water's  edge,  called 
out,  "Pourquoi,  est-ce  que  vous  ne  parlez  pas  plus  haut?"  to  which 
the  captain  answered,  in  a  soft  tone  of  voice,  "  Tais-toi,  nous  serons 
entendus.  Thus  cautioned,  the  sentry  retired,  and  the  boats  pro 
ceeded  without  further  altercation,  and  landed  at  the  spot  now 
celebrated  as  "  Wolfe's  Cove." 

General  Wolfe  was  one  of  the  first  on  shore,  and,  on  seeing  the 
difficulty  of  ascending  the  precipice,  observed  familiarly  to  Captain 
McDonald,  "  I  do  not  believe  there  is  any  possibility  of  getting  up, 
but  you  must  do  your  endeavor."  Indeed,  the  precipice  here  was 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


77 


so  steep  that  there  seemed  no  possibility  of  scaling  it,  but  the 
Highlanders,  grasping  the  bushes  that  grew  on  its  face,  ascended 
the  woody  precipice  with  courage  and  dexterity.  They  dislodged 
a  small  body  of  troops  that  defended  a  narrow  pathway  up  the 


HENRY    FISH. 

HENRY  FISH,  one  of  the  present  leading  citizens  of  Port  Huron,  Michi 
gan,  was  born  five  miles  above  Montreal,  Canada,  in  1824.  His  parents 
were  of  New  England  birth,  but  removed  to  Canada  at  an  early  day.  In 
the  year  1836  the  family  came  to  Michigan,  and  settled  in  Maconib 
county.  In  the  year  1848  Henry  Fish  moved  to  Port  Huron,  and  engaged 
in  merchandising  and  lumbering.  For  the  past  eighteen  years  he,  in 
connection  with  his  brother,  has  been  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business 
exclusively,  the  firm  of  A.  &  H.  Fish  being  favorably  and  extensively 


78  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

bank ;  and,  a  few  more  mounting,  the  General  drew  up  the  rest  in 
order  as  they  arrived.  With  great  exertion  they  reached  the  sum 
mit,  and  in  a  short  time  Wolfe  had  his  whole  army  drawn  up  in 
regular  order  on  the  plains  above. 

Montcalm,  struck  with  this  unexpected  movement,  concluded 
that  unless  Wolfe  could  be  driven  from  this  position  Quebec  was 
lost.  Hoping,  probably,  that  only  a  detachment  had  as  yet 
reached  it,  he  lost  his  usual  prudence  and  forbearance,  and  finding 
that  his  opponent  had  gained  so  much  by  hazarding  all,  he,  with 
an  infatuation  for  which  it  is  difficult  to  account,  resolved  to  meet 
the  British  army. 

He  crossed  the  St.  Charles  on  the  13th,  sallying  forth  from  a 
strong  fortress  without  field  artillery,  without  even  waiting  the 
return  of  Bougainville,  who  with  two  thousand  men  formed  a 
corps  of  observation.  Before  he  could  concentrate  his  forces,  he 
advanced  with  haste  and  precipitation,  and  commenced  a  most 
gallant  attack  when  within  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of 
the  English  line.  The  English  moved  forward  regularly,  firing 
steadily  until  within  thirty  or  forty  yards  of  the  French,  when 
they  gave  a  general  volley,  which  did  great  execution.  The 
English  had  only  a  light  cannon,  which  the  sa'lors  had  dragged 
up  the  heights  with  ropes.  The  sabre,  therefore,  and  the  bayonet 
decided  the  day.  The  agile  Scotch  Highlanders,  with  their  stout 
claymores,  served  the  purpose  of  cavalry,  and  the  steady  fire  of 

known.  Mr.  Fish  is  one  of  the  most  active  and  influential  lay  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Michigan,  being  elected  President 
of  the  State  Convention  of  that  church,  held  at  Albion,  in  1871.  The 
Detroit  Annual  Conference,  in  company  with  Mr.  John  Owen,  of  Detroit, 
elected  him  as  lay  delegate  to  the  General  Conference  of  Ma}^  1872. 

He  was  the  candidate  of  the  Prohibition  party  for  Governor  of  Michi 
gan  in  1870  and  a,gain  in  1872.  The  National  Prohibition  party,  yet  in 
its  infancy,  presented  its  first  national  ticket  to  the  people  in  1872.  It 
had  its  inception  in  a  meeting  of  a  few  friends  of  temperance  (of  whom 
Mr.  Fish  was  a  leading  one),  held  in  Detroit,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1867. 
This  meeting  advised  the  formation  of  an  independent  political  party, 
because,  as  they  stated,  legal  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic  is  such  a 
radical  reform  as  cannot  be  accomplished  through  the  agency  of  a  politi 
cal  party  composed  of  temperance  men  and  the  sellers  and  drinkers  of 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN.  79 

the  English  fusileers  compensated  in  some  degree  for  the  want  of 
artillery. 

The  heroism  of  Montcalm  was  as  conspicuous  as  that  of  his 
illustrious  opponent ;  both  headed  their  men ;  both  rushed  with 
eagerness  where  the  battle  raged  most  fiercely.  Often  by  their 
personal  prowess  and  example  did  they  change  the  fortune  of  the 
moment.  Both  were  repeatedly  wounded,  but  still  fought  on  with 
enthusiasm.  And  at  last  both  these  gallant  commanders  fell  mor 
tally  wounded,  whilst  advancing  to  the  last  deadly  charge  at  the 
head  of  their  respective  columns. 

Wolfe  was  first  wounded  in  the  wrist.  He  immediately  wrapped 
a  handkerchief  round  his  arm,  and,  putting  himself  at  the  head  of 
his  grenadiers,  led  them  on  to  the  charge.  He  was  then  struck 
with  a  second  ball,  but  still  pressed  on,  when,  just  as  the  enemy 
were  about  to  give  way,  he  received  a  third  ball  in  the  breast  and 
groin,  and  sank.  When  they  raised  him  from  the  ground  he  tried, 
with  a  faint  hand,  to  clear  the  death-mist  from  his  eyes.  He 
could  not  see  how  the  battle  went,  and  was  sinking  to  the  earth, 
when  the  cry,  "  They  run !  they  run !  "  arrested  his  fleeting  spirit. 
"Who  run?"  asked  the  dying  hero.  "The  French,"  replied  his 
supporter ;  "  they  give  way  everywhere."  "  What !  "  said  he,  "  do 
they  run  already?  Now  God  be  praised — I  die  happy;  "  and,  so 
saying,  the  youthful  victor  breathed  his  last.  Such  was  the  death 

intoxicating  liquors.  Both  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties  are  so 
composed,  and  are,  therefore,  organically  disqualified  to  indorse  prohibi 
tion  as  a  party  measure,  and  without  such  indorsement  no  political  party 
can  be  depended  upon,  when  in  power,  to  enact  and  enforce  laws  prohib 
iting  the  liquor  traffic.  Hence,  they  declared  that  both  reason  and  expe 
rience  proved  the  necessity  of  independent  political  action  on  the  part  of 
the  friends  of  prohibition.  As  the  result  of  this  meeting,  a  State  Conven 
tion  was  held  at  Jackson,  January  27th,  1869,  and  such  a  party  formed. 
The  following  year  they  nominated  their  first  State  ticket,  headed  by  Mr. 
Fish  for  Governor,  and  at  the  election  in  November  he  received  a  vote 
exceedingly  nattering  to  himself  and  his  party.  In  1872  he  was  again  the 
candidate  of  the  same  party  for  the  same  office,  and  with  similar  results. 
Mr.  Fish  is  a  careful  and  competent  business  man,  of  far  more  than 
average  culture,  and  a  very  affable  and  agreeable  gentleman. 


80  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

of  Wolfe  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-five,  when  but  few  men  begin 
even  to  appear  on  the  theater  of  great  events. 

There  is  a  small  monument  on  the  place  of  his  death,  with  the 
date  and  this  inscription :  "  Here  Wolfe  died  victorious."  He 
was  too  precious  to  be  left  even  on  the  field  of  his  glory ;  England, 
jealous  of  his  ashes,  had  them  laid  with  his  father's  in  Greenwich, 
the  town  in  which  he  was  born.  The  news  of  these  events  reached 
Britain  but  forty-eight  hours  later  than  the  first  discouraging  dis 
patch,  and  spread  universal  joy  for  the  great  victory,  and  sorrow 
for  its  price.  Throughout  broad  England  were  illuminations  and 
songs  of  triumph ;  one  country  village  was,  however,  silent  and 
still — there  Wolfe's  widowed  mother  mourned  her  only  son. 

The  chivalrous  Montcalm  also  died  nobly.  When  his  wounds 
were  pronounced  mortal,  he  expressed  his  thankfulness  that  he 
should  die  before  the  surrender  of  Quebec.  On  being  visited  by 
the  commander  of  the  garrison,  M.  de  Ramzay,  and  by  the  com 
mandant,  De  Rousellon,  he  entreated  him  to  endeavor  to  secure 
the  retreat  of  the  army  beyond  Cap  Rouge. 

Before  he  died  he  paid  the  victorious  army  this  magnanimous 
compliment :  "  Since  it  has  been  my  misfortune  to  be  discomfited 
and  mortally  wounded,  it  is  a  great  satisfaction  to  me  to  be  van 
quished  by  so  brave  and  generous  an  enemy."  Almost  his  last  act 
was  to  write  a  letter  recommending  the  French  prisoners  to  the 
generosity  of  their  victors.  He  died  at  five  o'clock  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  14th  of  September,  and  was  buried  in  an  excavation 
made  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  near  the  Ursuline  convent. 

The  battle  had  scarcely  closed  before  Bougainville  appeared  in 
sight ;  but  the  fate  of  Canada  was  decided,  the  critical  moment 
was  gone.  He  retired  to  Pointe  aux  Trembles  en  bas,  where  he 
encamped,  and  thence  he  retreated  to  Three  Rivers  and  Montreal. 
Had  all  the  French  forces  been  concentrated  under  Montcalm,  it 
is  doubtful  if  the  heroism  of  the  British  troops  could  have  secured 
the  victory,  so  great  was  the  valor  displayed.  On  the  17th  a  flag 
of  truce  came  out  of  the  city,  and  on  the  18th  a  capitulation  was 
effected  on  terms  honorable  to  the  French,  who  were  not  made 
prisoners,  but  conveyed  home  to  their  own  country.  General 
Murray  then  assumed  the  command. 


CHAPTER    V. 


PROGRESS  OP  THE  FRENCH  TOWARD  MICHIGAN — THE  STRUGGLES  AND 
ADVENTURES  OP  THE  MISSIONARIES  —  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OP  THE 
GREAT  AND  GOOD  MARQUETTE — PIONEER  LIFE. 

HAVING  followed  the  history  of  New'  France  to  the  end  of 
the  French  rule  in  Canada,  we  will  now  return  and  trace  the  west 
ward  movements  of  civilization  to  the  borders  of  Michigan. 

The  French  settlers  who  had  established  themselves  upon  the 
banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence  were  never  wanting  in  zeal  and  enter 
prise  in  extending  their  explorations  westward.  It  was  early  the 
avowed  object  of  the  government  to  carry  the  cross  of  the  Catho 
lic  Church  to  the  remotest  bounds  of  the  western  territory,  and 
thus  to  secure  the  advantages  of  its  great  resources.  The  princi 
pal  directors  of  the  ecclesiastical  establishments  that  were  collected 
at  Quebec  found  it  their  policy  to  become  informed  of  the  con 
dition  of  the  domain  of  the  great  lakes,  and  as  early  as  1634  the 
Jesuits  Breboeuf  and  Daniel  joined  a  party  of  Hurons,  who  were 
returning  from  that  walled  city,  and,  passing  through  to  the 
Ottawa  River,  raised  the  first  hut  of  the  Society  of  Jesus  upon  the 
shore  of  Lake  Iroquois,  a  bay  of  Lake  Huron,  where  they  daily 
rang  a  bell  to  call  the  savages  to  prayer,  and  performed  all  those 
kind  offices  which  wTere  calculated  to  secure  the  confidence  and 
affection  of  the  tribes  on  the  lake  shore.  In  order  to  confirm  the 
missions  a  college  was  founded  in  Quebec  during  the  following 
year,  and  a  hospital  was  established  at  the  same  place  for  the 
unfortunate  of  every  class.  A  plan  for  the  establishment  of  mis 
sions,  not  only  among  the  Algonquins  of  the  north,  but  also  south 
of  Lake  Michigan  and  in  Michigan,  was  formed  within  six  years 
after  the  discovery  of  Canada. 

Carder  was  the  pioneer,  but  Champlain  was  the  founder  of  the 
French  power  upon  this  continent.  For  twenty  years  succeeding 
6 


82  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

the  commencement  of  the  seventeenth  century  he  was  zealously 
employed  in  planting  and  rearing  upon  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law 
rence  that  infant  colony  which  was  destined  to  extend  its  branches 
into  Michigan,  and  finally  to  contest  with  its  great  rival  the  sover 
eignty  of  North  America. 

We  shall  not  here  attempt  to  trace  the  progress  of  these  remote 
settlements,  nor  to  mark  the  alternations  of  prosperity  and  adver 
sity.  They  are  in  this  work  peculiarly  interesting  to  us  only  as 
they  exhibit  the  gradual  and  successive  steps  by  which  a  knowl 
edge  of  the  lake  country  was  acquired,  and  its  first  settlements 
founded.  As  the  tide  of  French  power  flows  toward  Michigan, 
we  become  more  anxious  to  trace  its  principles  and  progress,  and 
to  inquire  into  the  motives  and  means  of  the  hardy  adventurers 
who  were  every  year  ascending  still  further  and  further  the 
boundless  waters  before  them.  It  was  early  discovered  that  a 
profitable  traffic  in  furs  could  be  carried  on  with  the  Indians,  and 
the  excitement  of  gain  prompted  those  engaged  in  it  to  explore 
every  avenue  by  which  the  camp  and  hunting  grounds  of  the 
Indians  could  be  approached.  A  better  and  nobler  feeling,  too, 
brought  to  this  work  a  body  of  learned  and  pious  men,  who  left 
behind  them  their  own  world,  with  all  its  pleasures  and  attach 
ments,  and  sought  in  the  depths  of  remote  and  unknown  regions 
objects  for  the  exercise  of  their  zeal  and  piety.  The  whole  history 
of  human  character  furnishes  no  more  illustrious  examples  of  self- 
devotion  than  are  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  the  establishments 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  missionaries,  whose  faith  and  fervor  ena 
bled  them  to  combat  the  difficulties  around  them  in  life,  or  to 
triumph  over  them  in  death. 

By  the  operation  of  these  causes  a  knowledge  of  the  great  fea 
tures  of  the  continent  was  gradually  acquired,  and  the  circle  of 
French  power  and  influence  enlarged.  As  early  as  1632,  seven 
years  only  after  the  foundations  of  Quebec  were  laid,  the  mission 
aries  had  penetrated  to  Lake  Huron  by  the  route  of  Grand  River, 
and  Father  Sagard  has  left  an  interesting  narrative  of  their  toils 
and  sufferings  upon  its  bleak  and  sterile  shores.  The  Wyandots 
had  been  driven  into  that  region  from  the  banks  of  the  St.  Law 
rence,  by  their  inveterate  enemies,  the  Iroquois,  whose  valor, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


83 


enterprise  and  success  constitute  the  romance  of  Indian  history. 
The  good  priests  accompanied  them  in  this  expatriation,  and  if 
they  could  not  prevent  their  sufferings,  they  shared  them.  No 
portion  of  those  wide  domains  was  secure  from  the  conquering 


COL.  WM.  M.  FENTON. 

WM.  M.  FENTON,  one  of  the  greatest  of  Michigan  men,  was  born  on 
the  19th  of  December,  1808,  in  Norwich,  Chenango  county,  New  York. 
Here  his  father,  Hon.  Joseph  S.  Fenton,  was  one  of  the  first  citizens  in 
wealth  and  social  position,  being  a  prominent  banker,  and  an  elder  in 
the.  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  main  pillars  of 
support.  His  mother,  a  member  of  the  same  church,  was  distinguished 
for  devoted  piety  and  an  earnest  zeal  in  every  good  work. 

William  was  the  eldest  of  nine  children,  and  in  early  life,  while  under 
the  parental  roof,  was  remarkable  for  his  integrity  and  great  love  for 
knowledge,  which  made  him  a  most  indefatigable  student,  so  that  when 


84  GENERAL   HI8TORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Iroquois,  and  they  pursued  their  discomfited  enemies  with  relent 
less  fury.  Little  would  be  gained  by  an  attempt  to  describe  the 
events  of  this  exterminating  warfare.  "  The  details  are  as  afflict 
ing,"  says  General  Cass,  "  as  any  recorded  in  the  long  annals  of 
human  vengeance  and  human  sufferings."  Villages  were  sacked; 
and  by  night  and  by  day,  in  winter  and  in  summer,  there  was  nei 
ther  rest  nor  safety  for  the  vanquished.  The  character  of  the 
missionaries  did  not  exempt  them  from  a  full  participation  in  the 
misfortunes  of  their  converts,  and  many  of  them  were  murdered 
at  the  foot  of  the  altar,  with  the  crucifix  in  their  hands  and  the 
name  of  God  upon  their  lips.  Some  were  burned  at  the  stake, 
with  all  those  horrible  accompaniments  of  savage  ingenuity  which 
add  intensity  to  the  pangs  of  the  victims  and  duration  to  their 
sufferings.  But  nothing  could  shake  the  fortitude  of  these  apos 
tles.  They  lived  the  life  of  saints,  and  died  the  death  of  martyrs. 
It  is  now  difficult  to  conceive  what,  however,  is  now  well  authen 
ticated,  that  two  hundred  years  ago  the  great  central  point  of 
Indian  influence  and  intelligence  was  upon  the  southern  shore  of 

but  fourteen  years  of  age  he  passed  his  examination,  and  entered  Hamil 
ton  College.  From  this  institution  he  graduated  at  the  head  of  his  class 
in  1827,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  when  the  most  of  students  are  only  pre 
pared  to  enter.  From  the  college  halls  he  went  into  the  banking  house 
of  his  father.  The  confinement  consequent  upon  this  business  was  too 
close  for  his  feeble  health,  and  after  a  service  of  but  a  few  months,  he 
entered  upon  a  seafaring  life,  shipping  from  Charleston,  S.  C.,  as  a  com 
mon  sailor.  Four  years  later  he  left  this  occupation,  having  acquired 
that  physical  culture  and  discipline,  and  gained  that  knowledge  of 
human  nature,  which  proved  of  great  service  to  him  through  the  remain 
der  of  his  life.  At  the  time  of  quitting  his  marine  life  he  was  mate  of  a 
merchantman,  and  was  offered  the  captaincy  of  a  similar  craft. 

In  April,  1834,  he  married  a  daughter  of  Judge  James  Birdsall,  of 
Norwich,  and  in  July  of  the  same  year  emigrated  to  Michigan,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six.  After  residing  for  two  years  at  Pontiac,  being 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  he  removed  to  Genesee  county,  and 
purchased  the  land  where  the  village  of  Fenton  now  stands. 

In  1839  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  Fentonville,  and  in  1841, 
with  Andrew  Parsons,  afterwards  Governor,  was  admitted*  to  the  bar. 
Soon  after  he  engaged  in  politics,  and  his  talents  as  a  lawyer,  and  his 
extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  things,  at  once  made  him  a  leader  in 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN.  85 

Lake  Superior,  and  far  toward  its  western  extremity.  This  was 
the  seat  of  the  Chippewa  power,  and  here  was  burning  the  eternal 
fire  whose  extinction  foretold,  if  it  did  not  occasion  a  national 
calamity.  "  No  fact,"  says  General  Cass,  "  is  better  established  in 
the  whole  range  of  Indian  history,  than  the  devotion  of  some,  if 
not  all  the  tribes,  to  this  characteristic  feature  of  the  ancient 
superstition  of  the  Magi.  And  it  proves  their  separation  from  the 
primitive  stock  at  an  early  day,  when  this  belief  was  prevalent 
among  the  eastern  nations.  All  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
preservation  of  this  fire  yet  lived  in  Indian  tradition,  and  it  was 
still  burning  when  the  French  first  appeared  among  them.  There 
were  male  and  female  guardians,  to  whose  care  it  was  committed  ; 
and  when  we  recollect  the  solemn,  and  ritual,  and  dreadful  impre 
cations  with  which  the  same  pledge  of  Roman  safety  was  guarded 
and  preserved,  it  ought  not  to  surprise  us  that  such  importance 
was  attached  by  the  Indians,  whose  duration  was  to  be  coeval  with 
their  national  existence.  The  augury  has  proved  but  too  true. 
The  fire  is  extinct,  and  the  power  has  departed  from  them.  We 
have  trampled  on  the  one  and  overthrown  the  other." 


the  Democratic  party,  of  which  he  was  a  member.  In  1844  he  was  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  representative  in  the  State  Legislature,  but  was 
defeated.  At  the  next  election,  however,  he  was  chosen  Senator  from 
the  district  comprising  the  counties  of  Oakland,  Macomb,  Genesee  and 
Livingston.  He  was  twice  elected  Lieutenant-Governor,  serving  from 
1848  to  1852  inclusive,  while  Governors  Ransom  and  Barry  were  in  office. 
He  presided  with  dignity  and  ability  over  the  Senate,  and  had  the  party 
to  which  he  belonged  continued  in  power,  he  would  undoubtedly  have 
been  raised  to  the  office  of  Governor.  He  was  twice  nominated  for  Cir 
cuit  Judge  by  his  party,  and  had  he  been  elected  he  would  have  secured 
the  same  praise  which  he  so  unanimously  received  while  performing 
other  responsible  public  duties. 

In  1850  Mr.  Fenton  removed  to  Flint,  where  he  resided  until  his  death. 
He  was  appointed  Register  of  the  Land  Office  in  that  city  by  President 
Pierce,  in  1852,  and  held  the  position  until  the  office  was  removed  to 
Saginaw.  During  the  year  1856  he  traveled  through  Europe  with  his 
family,  for  the  purpose  of  improving  his  wife's  failing  health.  Return 
ing,  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Flint  in  1858. 

When  the  first  murmurings  of  the  late  civil  war  were  indistinctly 
heard  throughout  our  land,  the  voice  of  Mr.  Fenton  was  raised  far  above 


86  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

As  the  course  of  the  French  trade  first  took  the  route  of  the 
Ottawa  River,  their  establishment  upon  the  upper  lakes  preceded 
their  settlements  on  the  Detroit  River.  Soon  after  the  middle  of 
the  seventeenth  century  trading  posts  were  established  at  Michili- 
mackinac  and  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  at  Oreen  Bay,  at  Chicago  and 
at  St.  Joseph.  It  was  soon  known,  from  the  reports  of  the 
Indians,  that  a  great  river  flowed  through  the  country  beyond  the 
lakes  in  a  southerly  direction. 

In  August,  1665,  Father  Claude  Allouez  founded  the  first  per 
manent  white  settlement  on  Lake  Superior,  among  the  kindly  and 
hospitable  Indians  of  the  northwest.  He  soon  lighted  the  torch 
of  Catholicism  at  the  council  fires  of  more  than  twenty  .nations. 
He  came  in  peace,  the  messenger  of  religion  and  virtue,  and  he 
found  warm  friends.  The  Chippewas  gathered  round  him  to 
receive  instruction  ;  Pottawatomies,  Sacs,  Foxes,  and  even  Illinois, 
an  hospitable  race,  having  no  weapon  but  the  bow  and  arrow, 
diminished  in  numbers  by  wars  with  the  Sioux  and  the  Iroquois, 
came  to  rehearse  their  sorrows  in  the  hearing  of  this  devoted  mis- 

the  din  of  party  discord  for  his  country,  which  he  loved  so  well.  He 
had  been  and  was  a  Democrat,  but  he  was  more  than  either  Democrat  or 
Republican — he  was  a  true  patriot,  and,  dropping  all  considerations  of  a 
party  character,  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country  in  a  way  that  at 
once  attested  his  devotion  to  the  principles  of  American  union,  and 
proved  how  much  dearer  his  country  was  to  him  than  his  life.  His 
wealth  was  also  freely  given  to  sustain  the  cause  for  which  he  fought, 
and,  when  financial  difficulties  first  faced  the  government,  he  telegraphed 
to  Governor  Blair  that  the  sum  of  $5,000  of  his  private  means  was  at  the 
disposal  of  the  State  for  the  equipment  of  the  State  troops.  Early  in  the 
season  of  1861  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board, 
and  shortly  afterward  he  received  the  appointment  of  major  of  the  Seventh 
Infantry.  On  the  7th  of  August  following,  being  commissioned  by  Gov 
ernor  Blair,  colonel  of  the  Eighth  Infantry,  he,  with  that  regiment,  started 
for  the  seat  of  war  in  Virginia,  on  the  27th  of  September,  1861.  This  regi 
ment  he  was  mainly  instrumental  in  recruiting,  and  he  seemed  to  diffuse 
his  own  courage  through  the  entire  command.  No  regiment  has  a  better 
record,  and,  while  health  permitted,  his  record  and  that  of  the  Eighth 
are  identical.  The  rapidity  and  number  of  its  marches  were  such  as  to 
give  it  the  name  of  the  "  wandering  regiment."  From  the  time  that  it 
started  for  the  seat  of  war  until  November  1st,  1861,  a  little  more  than 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  87 

sionary.  His  curiosity  was  roused  by  their  account  of  the  noble 
river  on  which  they  dwelt,  and  which  flowed  toward  the  south. 
"  They  had  no  forests,  but  instead  of  them  vast  prairies,  where 
herds  of  deer,  and  buffalo,  and  other  animals,  grazed  on  the  tall 
grasses."  They  explained,  also,  the  wonders  of  their  peace  pipe, 
and  declared  it  to  be  their  custom  to  welcome  the  friendly  stranger 
with  shouts  of  joy.  "  Their  country,"  said  Allouez,  "  is  the  best 
field  for  the  gospel ;  had  I  leisure  I  would  have  gone  to  their 
dwellings,  to  see  with  my  own  eyes  all  the  good  that  was  told  me 
of  them." 

In  1668  additional  missionaries  arrived  from  France,  who,  fol 
lowing  in  the  footsteps  of  those  already  mentioned,  Dablon  and 
Marquette,  founded  the  mission  at  St.  Mary's  Falls,  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Superior.  While  residing  at  St.  Mary's,  Father  Mar 
quette  resolved  to  explore  the  Mississippi,  of  whose  magnificence 
he  had  heard  so  much.  Some  Pottawatomie  Indians,  having 
heard  him  express  this  resolution,  attempted  to  turn  him  from  his 
purpose.  "  Those  distant  nations,"  said  they,  "  never  spare  the 

thirty  clays,  it  had  been  engaged  in  nine  battles,  occurring  in  four  differ 
ent  States,  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Virginia  and  Maryland.  From  this 
time  until  April  16th,  1862,  it  was  engaged  most  creditably  in  several 
battles,  and  afterwards  became  specially  noted  in  the  spirited  engagement 
at  the  reconnoissance  made  on  board  the  steamer  "  Honduras,"  by  Colonel 
Fenton,  at  Wilmington  Island,  Ga.,  where,  after  landing  from  the  boat, 
it  encountered  the  Thirteenth  Georgia,  about  eight  hundred  strong,  and 
drove  them  from  the  field  in  confusion.  On  the  16th  of  June  following 
an  assault  was  made  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Secessionville,  on  James's 
Island,  S.  C.  The  direct  attack  was  made  by  Colonel  Fenton,  under 
General  Stevens.  Colonel  Fenton  led  the  brigade,  while  his  own  gallant 
regiment  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Graves.  This  was  one 
of  the  most  dashing  assaults  of  the  war,  but  made  at  a  distressing  sacri 
fice  of  life. 

Colonel  Fenton's  health  failing,  he  was  compelled  to  tender  his  resig 
nation,  which  was  accepted  in  March,  1863,  after  having  clone  his  country 
incalculable  service.  His  name  has  passed  into  the  history  of  his  coun 
try,  and  his  gallantry  and  patriotism  have  become  a  part  of  the  record  of 
which  his  State  may  well  feel  proud.  When  he  could  no  longer  serve  in 
the  army,  his  whole  energies  and  wide  influence  were  given  to  aid  the 
government  in  its  mighty  struggle  to  remain  intact. 


88  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

stranger;  the  great  river  abounds  with  monsters  which  devour 
both  men  and  canoes." 

"  I  shall  gladly,"  replied  Marquette,  "  lay  down  my  life  for  the 
salvation  of  souls."  Such  was  the  noble  spirit  of  this  brave  and 
worthy  missionary,  such  his  entire  devotedness  to  the  sacred  prin 
ciples  of  that  religion  of  which  he  was  the  humble  expounder. 

Continued  and  peaceful  commerce  with  the  French  having  con 
firmed  the  attachment  of  the  Indian  tribes  of  Canada  and  the 
Northwest,  a  friendly  alliance  was .  now  sought  with  them  which 
was  well  calculated  to  extend  the  power  of  France  on  the  conti 
nent.  In  May,  1671,  a  grand  Indian  council  was  hold  at  the  Falls 
of  St.  Mary's.  At  this  council,  convoked  by  the  agents  of  the 
French  government,  it  was  announced  to  the  tribes  assembled 
from  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  the  head  springs  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  Red  River,  that  they  were  placed  under  the 
protection  of  the  French  king,  formal  possession  being  taken  of 
Canada  and  the  Northwest  by  officers  acting  under  his  authority. 
The  Jesuit  missionaries  were  present  to  consecrate  the  imposing 


In  1864  lie  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  governor  of  the  State,  in 
opposition  to  Governor  Crapo. 

Upon  his  return  from  the  seat  of  war,  he  gave  his  attention  to  the  prac 
tice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  ranked  very  high,  and  to  the  details  of 
his  personal  business,  which  was  quite  large.  He  built  the  magnificent 
block  in  Flint  which  bears  his  name,  was  the  founder  of  the  Citizens' 
National  Bank  in  that  city,  and  the  president  of  it  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  He  was  also  chief  engineer  of  the  Fire  Department  of  that  city, 
and,  while  in  the  performance  of  the  arduous  duties  of  that  office,  he  met 
with  the  accident  which  caused  his  death. 

On  the  evening  of  May  llth,  1871,  hearing  an  alarm  of  fire,  he  ran 
rapidly  to  the  rescue,  striking  himself  against  a  hitching  post  with  great 
violence,  from  which  he  received  the  injuries  which  resulted  in  his  death 
at  eleven  o'clock  the  following  evening. 

The  death  of  Colonel  Fenton  was  a  blow  felt  throughout  the  State,  but 
more  especially  in  his  own  city,  where  he  occupied  a  position  which  but 
few  men  can  ever  attain.  On  the  day  of  his  funeral,  all  places  of  business 
in  Flint  were  closed,  and  his  remains  were  followed  to  their  last  resting 
place  by  a  funeral  cortege  which  constituted  the  most  striking  and  bril 
liant  spectacle  ever  witnessed  in  that  city,  being  conducted  under  the 
imposing  ceremonies  of  the  Knights  Templar. 


90  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ceremonial.  A  cross  of  cedar  was  erected,  and  by  its  side  rose  a 
column  of  similar  wood,  on  which  was  engraved  the  lilies  of  the 
Bourbons.  The  authority  and  faith  of  France  being  thus  pro 
claimed,  "  the  whole  company,  bowing  before  the  image  of  man's 
redemption,  chanted  to  its  glory  a  hymn  of  the  seventh  century." 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1673,  Father  Marquette,  who  had  long 
entertained  the  idea  of  exploring  the  Mississippi,  the  great  river 
of  the  West,  accompanied  by  Joliet,  five  Frenchmen,  and  two 
Algonquin  guides,  ascended  to  the  head  of  the  Fox  River,  and, 
carrying  their  two  bark  canoes  across  the  narrow  portage  which 
divides  the  Fox  River  from  the  Wisconsin,  launched  them  upon 
the  waters  of  the  latter.  The  guides  now  left  them,  and  for  seven 
days  they  floated  down  the  stream,  between  alternate  prairies  and 
hill  sides,  beholding  neither  man  nor  beast — through  the  solitudes 
of  a  ^Iderness,  the  stillness  of  which  overawed  their  spirits.  At 
length,  to  their  inexpressible  joy,  their  frail  canoes  struck  the 
mighty  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  rolling  through  verdant  prairies 
dotted  with  herds  of  buffalo,  and  its  banks  overhung  with  primi 
tive  forests. 

Having  sailed  down  this  noble  stream  for  about  sixty  leagues, 
they  discovered,  toward  the  close  of  June,  an  Indian  trail  on  its 
western  bank.  It  was  like  the  human  footsteps  which  Robinson 
Crusoe  saw  in  the  sand,  and  which  had  not  been  effaced  by  the 
rising  of  the  tides  or  the  rolling  of  the  waters.  A  little  footpath 
was  soon  found,  and,  leaving  their  companions  in  the  canoes,  Mar 
quette  and  Joliet  determined  to  brave  alone  a  meeting  with  the 
savages.  After  following  the  little  path  for  about  six  miles,  they 
discovered  an  Indian  village.  First  imploring  the  protection  of 
Divine  Providence,  they  made  known  their  presence  to  the  Indi 
ans  by  uttering  a  loud  cry.  "  At  this  cry,"  says  Marquette,  "  the 
Indians  rushed  out  of  their  cabins,  and,  having  probably  recog 
nized  us  as  French,  especially  seeing  a  '  black  gown,'  or  at  least 
having  no  reason  to  distrust  us,  seeing  we  were  but  two,  and  had 
made  known  our  coming,  they  deputed  four  old  men  to  come  and 
speak  with  us.  Two  carried  tobacco  pipes,  well  adorned  and 
trimmed  with  many  kinds  of  feathers.  They  marched  slowly, 
lifting  their  pipes  toward  the  sun,  as  if  offering  them  to  him  to 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


91 


smoke,  but  yet  without  uttering  a  single  word.  They  were  a  long 
time  coming  the  little  way  from  the  village  to  us.  Having 
reached  us  at  last,  they  stopped  to  consider  us  attentively.  I  now 
took  courage,  seeing  these  ceremonies,  which  are  used  by  them 


HON.  MARTIN  S.  BRACKETT. 

MARTIN  S.  BRACKETT,  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  Peninsular  Rail 
way  of  this  State,  was  born  at  Elbridge,  Onondaga  County,  New  York, 
December  19th,  1810.  He  is  the  youngest  son  of  Captain  Ezra  Brackett, 
who  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Elbridge.  Mr.  Brackett's  boyhood 
days  were  passed  with  his  father,  on  whose  farm  and  in  whose  brickyard 
he  worked  during  the  summers,  and  attended  school  during  the  winters. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  commenced  his  studies  in  the  academy  at  Onon 
daga  Hollow,  where  he  remained  three  terms.  At  the  expiration  of  the 
third  term,  he  returned  to  his  native  town,  and  continued  his  studies 


02  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

only  with  friends ;  I  therefore  spoke  to  them  first,  and  asked  them 
who  they  were.  '  We  are,'  said  they,  '  Illinois,'-  and,  in  token  of 
peace,  they  presented  us  their  pipes  to  smoke.  They  then  invited 
us  to  their  village,  where  all  the  tribe  awaited  us  with  impatience. 
These  pipes  are  called  in  the  country  calumets." 

Our  travelers  having  arrived  at  the  village,  an  aged  chief  bid 
them  welcome  to  his  cabin  with  uplifted  hands,  their  usual  method 
of  receiving  strangers.  "  How  beautiful,"  said  the  chief,  "  is  the 
sun,  Frenchman,  when  tliou  comest  to  visit  us!  Our  whole  vil 
lage  awaits  thee ;  thou  shalt  enter  in  peace  into  all  our  dwellings." 

A  grand  council  of  the  whole  tribe  was  held,  which  Marquette 
addressed  on  the  subject  of  the  Christian  religion,  informing  them 
at  the  same  time  that  the  French  king  had  subjugated  their  ene 
mies,  the  Iroquois,  and  questioning  them  respecting  the  Mississippi 
and  the  tribes  which  inhabited  its  banks.  The  missionary  having 
finished,  the  sachem  of  the  Illinois  arose,  and  spoke  thus :  "  I 
thank  thee,  black  gown,  and  thee,  Frenchman,"  addressing  M. 
Joliet,  "  for  taking  so  much  pains  to  come  and  visit  us.  Never 
has  the  earth  been  so  beautiful,  nor  the  sun  so  bright  as  to-day  ; 
never  has  our  river  been  so  calm,  nor  so  free  from  rocks,  which 
your  canoes  have  removed  as  they  passed ;  never  has  our  tobacco 

under  the  instructions  of  the  Rev.  Timothy  Stowe,  pastor  of  the  Presby 
terian  church  of  that  village,  until  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1828. 
At  this  time  Mr.  Bracket!,  for  his  brother,  took  charge  of  a  large  number 
of  men  and  teams  going  overland  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  and  assisted  in 
the  construction  of  nine  miles  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Ohio  Canal,  in 
which  there  were  nine  locks.  This  work  occupied  some  two  years,  at 
the  end  of  which  he  again  returned  to  Elbridge,  and  resumed  his  studies 
with  the  reverend  gentleman  heretofore  mentioned. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  he  commenced  civil  engineering,  under  the  super 
vision  of  Judge  Wright,  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  and  assisted  in  the 
construction  of  the  canal  built  through  New  Jersey  at  that  time,  and  also 
the  partial  excavation  of  the  canal  for  the  water  works  at  Trenton.  The 
Trenton  Company  being  enjoined  from  further  proceedings,  Mr.  Brack  - 
ett  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  took  a  contract  on  the  Philadelphia,  Ger- 
mantown  and  Morristown  Railroad.  After  finishing  his  contract  on 
this  road,  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  contracted  with  Robert  L. 
Stevens,  Esq. ,  to  furnish  the  stone  blocks  for  the  Camden  and  Amboy 
Railroad.  Completing  this  contract,  he  returned  to  Onondaga  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  93 

had  so  fine  a  flavor,  nor  our  corn  appeared  so  beautiful  as  we 
behold  it  to-day.  Here  is  my  son  that  I  give  thee,  that  thou 
raayest  know  my  heart.  I  pray  thee  to  take  pity  on  me  and  all 
my  nation.  Thou  knowest  the  Great  Spirit  who  has  made  us  all, 
thou  speakest  to  him  and  hearest  his  word ;  ask  him  to  give  me 
life  and  health,  and  come  and  dwell  with  us  that  we  may  know 
him." 

"  Saying  this,"  says  Marquette,  "  he  placed  the  little  slave  near 
us,  and  made  us  a  second  present,  an  all-mysterious  calumet, 
which  they  value  more  than  a  slave.  By  this  present  he  showed 
us  his  esteem  for  our  governor,  after  the  account  we  had  given  of 
him.  By  the  third  he  begged  us,  in  behalf  of  the  whole  nation, 
not  to  proceed  further,  on  account  of  the  great  dangers  to  which 
we  exposed  ourselves.  I  replied  that  I  did  not  fear  death,  and 
that  I  esteemed  no  happiness  greater  than  that  of  losing  my  life 
for  the  glory  of  Him  who  made  all." 

This  council  was  followed  by  a  festival  of  Indian  meal,  fish, 
and  the  choicest  products  of  the  prairies.  The  town,  consisting  of 
about  three  hundred  cabins,  was  then  visited.  Its  inhabitants, 
who  had  never  before  seen  a  Frenchman,  gazed  at  them  with 
astonishment,  and  made  them  presents.  "  While  we  marched 

entered  the  law  office  of  the  Hon.  James  R.  Lawrence,  where  he  studied 
the  legal  profession  for  over  two  years. 

In  1836  the  Auburn  and  Syracuse  Railroad  was  commenced,  and  Mr. 
Brackett  contracted  for  and  completed  the  heaviest  work  on  the  line.  It 
was  also  under  his  supervision  that  the  Erie  (.anal  was  enlarged  from 
Syracuse  to  Geddes. 

In  the  spring  of  1838  Mr.  Brackett  removed  to  Michigan,  settling  in  the 
village  of  Bellevue,  where  he  still  resides.  He  officiated  as  Deputy 
County  Clerk  at  the  first  term  of  the  Circuit  Court  held  in  his  county,  in 
in  the  autumn  of  1838,  the  Hon.  Judge  Ransom  presiding.  The  same 
fall  he  entered  the  firm  of  Gibbs  &  Bradley,  attorneys,  in  Marshall,  and, 
in  the  following  year,  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
all  the  courts  of  the  State.  During  the  autumn  of  this  year  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk,  which  position  he  held  for  three 
successive  terms,  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  in  a  creditable  and 
highly  satisfactory  manner.  Immediately  upon  the  expiration  of  his 
third  term  as  County  Clerk,  the  citizens  of  his  county  chose  him  as  their 
Prosecuting  Attorney,  in  which  official  position  he  remained  three  years, 


94  GENERAL   flISTORY   OE  THE  STATES 

through  the  streets,"  says  Marquette,  "  an  orator  was  constantly 
haranguing,  to  oblige  all  to  see  us  without  being  troublesome. 
We  were  everywhere  presented  with  belts,  garters,  and  other 
articles,  made  of  the  hair  of  the  bear  and  wild  cattle,  dyed  red, 
yellow  and  gray.  These  are  their  rarities,  but,  not  being  of  con 
sequence,  we  did  not  burden  ourselves  with  them.  We  slept  in 
the  sachem's  cabin,  and  the  next  day  took  leave  of  him,  promising 
to  pass  back  through  his  town  in  four  moons.  He  escorted  us  to 
our  canoes  with  nearly  six  hundred  persons,  who  saw  us  embark, 
evincing  in  every  possible  way  the  pleasure  our  visit  had  given 
them." 

The  following  is  a  brief  abstract  from  the  account  given  by 
Father  Marquette  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  Illinois 
Indians  at  the  period  of  his  visit.  Happily,  the  Jesuits  were 
men  of  learning  and  observation,  who  felt  the  importance  of  their 
position,  so  that  while  faithfully  discharging  the  duties  of  their 
religious  profession,  they  carefully  recorded  the  progress  of  events 
around  them : 

"  To  say  '  Illinois '  is,  in  their  language,  to  say  '  the  men,'  as  if 
other  Indians  compared  to  them  were  beasts.  They  are  divided 
into  several  villages,  some  of  which  are  quite  distant  from  each 

holding  it  one  year  by  appointment.  In  1842  he  received  the  nomination 
of  the  Whig  party  for  State  Senator,  but,  with  his  party,  was  defeated  at 
the  election.  In  1848,  finding  himself  differing* in  many  essential  points 
from  the  Whigs,  he  left  that  party  and  joined  his  fortunes  with  the  Demo 
crats,  from  whom  he  received  the  nomination  for  State  Senator  in  1856, 
and  for  Lieutenant-Governor  in  1864. 

On  the  7th  of  September,  1865,  the  Peninsular  Railway  Company  was 
organized  in  Mr.  Brackett's  office,  in  Bellevue,  at  which  time  he  was 
elected  a  director,  and  secretary  and  attorney  of  the  company.  He  has 
held  these  offices  ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  the  office  of  secretary, 
which  was  held  by  the  Hon.  Charles  W.  Clisbie  from  February,  1868, 
until  March,  1869. 

Mr.  Brackett  also  held  the  office  of  Grand  Worthy  Chief  of  the  Inde 
pendent  Order  of  Good  Templars  of  the  State,  for  three  years. 

As  a  man  he  has  at  all  times  contributed  much  towards  the  reformation 
of  the  evils  by  which  his  fellow  man  was  surrounded,  and  has  ever 
worked  for  the  good  of  his  town  and  State. 


HIStO&Y    OF   MICHIGAN. 


95 


other,  and  which  produces  a  diversity  in  their  language,  which  in 
general  has  a  great  affinity  for  the  Algonquin.  They  are  mild 
and  tractable  in  disposition,  have  many  wives,  of  whom  they  are 
extremely  jealous ;  they  watch  them  carefully,  and  cut  off  their 


HON.  TIMOTHY  JEROME. 

TIMOTHY  JEROME,  of  Saginaw  City,  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Tru- 
mansburg,  N.  Y.,  in  1820.  His  parents  settled  in  Detroit  in  1828,  and, 
except  from  1831  to  1834,  he  has  resided  in  the  Territory  and  State  of 
Michigan  ever  since — in  St.  Clair  county  until  1852,  and  from  that  time  in 
Saginaw  county.  During  the  whole  period  of  his  residence  in  the  latter 
county  he  has  lived  in  the  city  of  Saginaw,  and  there  he  has  fixed  his 
permanent  abode.  During  his  boyhood  the  opportunities  for  education 
in  Michigan  were  limited,  but  he  made  the  most  of  them.  Though  his 
attainments  as  a  scholar  were  not  such  as  to  give  any  particular  direction 


§6  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

noses  and  ears  when  they  do  not  behave  well ;  I  saw  several  who 
bore  the  marks  of  their  infidelity.  They  are  well  formed,  nimble 
and  very  adroit  in  using  the  bow  and  arrow.  They  use  guns, 
also,  which  they  buy  of  our  Indian  allies,  who  trade  with  the 
French ;  they  use  them  especially  to  terrify  the  nations  against 
whom  they  go  to  war.  These  nations  have  no  knowledge  of  Euro 
peans,  are  unacquainted  with  the  use  of  either  iron  or  copper,  and 
have  nothing  but  stone  knives."  When  the  Illinois  go  to  war,  a 
loud  cry  is  made  at  the  door  of  each  hut  in  the  village,  the 
morning  and  evening  before  the  warriors  set  out.  "  The  chiefs 
are  distinguished  from  the  soldiers  by  a  scarf,  ingeniously  made 
of  the  hair  of  bears  and  wild  oxen.  The  face  is  painted  with  red 
lead,  or  ochre,  which  is  found  in  great  quantities  a  few  days' 
journey  from  the  village.  They  live  by  game,  which  is  abundant 
in  this  country,  and  on  Indian  corn.  They  also  sow  beans  and 
melons.  Their  squashes  they  dry  in  the  sun,  to  eat  in  the  winter 
and  spring.  Their  cabins  are  very  large,  and  lined  and  floored 
with  rush  mats.  They  make  all  their  dishes  of  wood,  and  their 
spoons  of  the  bones  of  the  buffalo.  Their  only  clothes  are  skins  ; 
their  women  are  always  dressed  very  modestly  and  decently, 
while  the  men  do  not  take  any  pains  to  cover  themselves. 

"It  now  only  remains  for  me  to  speak  of  the  calumet,  than 
which  there  is  nothing  among  them  more  mysterious  or  more 
esteemed.  Men  do  not  pay  to  the  crowns  and  sceptres  of  kings 

to  his  labors  in  later  life,  they  were  sufficient,  with  the  practical  training 
of  experience  in  his  early  manhood,  to  discipline  his  mind  and  develop 
his  versatile  talent. 

In  business  he  has  displayed  a  resolute  courage  and  great  fertility  of 
mental  resource.  He  has  succeeded  as  a  lumberman,  in  steamboating, 
and  in  important  and  delicate  negotiations.  As  the  fruit  of  his  varied 
operations,  he  has  acquired  a  goodly  property,  and  is  recognized  as  one 
of  the  solid  men  of  the  Saginaw  Valley. 

He  served  one  term  in  the  Michigan  Legislature,  as  member  of  the 
House  for  Saginaw  county,  in  1857-8.  With  that  exception,  and  though 
occasionally  a  zealous  politician,  he  has  not  held  nor  sought  office. 

Socially  he  is  genial,  attractive  in  manner  and  conversation,  surrounded 
with  hosts  of  friends  and  admirers.  He  is  warm  in  his  friendships,  and 
possesses  an  unusually  long  and  grateful  memory  of  little  kindnesses. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  97 

the  honor  they  pay  to  it.  It  seems  to  be  the  god  of  peace  and 
war,  the  arbiter  of  life  and  death.  Carry  it  about  you  and  show 
it,  and  you  can  march  fearlessly  amid  enemies,  who,  even  in  the 
heat  of  battle,  lay  down  their  arms  when  it  is  shown.  Hence  the 
Illinois  gave  me  one,  to  serve  as  a  safeguard  amid  all  the  Indian 
nations  that  I  had  to  pass  on  my  voyage." 

Such  is  the  account  left  by  Marquette  of  the  condition  of  .the 
Illinois  Indians,  at  the  time  of  his  visit,  in  1673.  Taking  leave 
of  these  hospitable  savages,  our  adventurous  travelers  once  more 
launched  forth  on  the  broad  waters  of  the  Mississippi.  As  they 
floated  down  this  noble  river  day  after  day,  they  gradually  entered 
on  the  richer  scenery  of  a  southern  climate.  The  sombre  pines 
of  the  woods  of  Canada,  the  forests  of  oak  and  maple,  were,  by 
degrees,  exchanged  for  the  lofty  cottonwood,  the  fan-like  palmetto, 
and  the  noble  arborescent  ferns  of  the  tropics.  They  began  to 
suffer  from  the  increasing  heat,  and  from  legions  of  mosquitos, 
which  haunt  the  swampy  margin  of  the  stream.  At  length  they 
arrived  at  that  part  of  the  stream  which,  upwards  of  a  century 
before,  had  been  discovered  by  De  Soto  and  his  ill-fated  compan 
ions,  in  the  country  of  the  war-like  Chickasaws.  Here  they  were 
attacked  by  a  fleet  of  canoes  filled  with  Indians,  armed  with  bows 
and  arrows,  clubs,  and  axes ;  but  when  the  old  men  got  a  fair 
view  of  the  calumet,  or  peace-pipe,  which  Marquette  continually 
held  up  to  view,  their  hearts  were  touched,  and  they  restrained  the 


In  the  ordinary  routine  and  exigencies  of  business,  he  is  prompt,  diligent, 
and  quietly  executive — he  works  out  his  plans  without  display.  He  has 
ever  been  punctilious  in  the  performance  of  his  undertakings,  and  so 
moderate  and  just  in  his  dealings,  that  he  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  a 
party  to  any  litigation. 

It  is  apparent,  from  many  interesting  episodes  in  his  life,  that  he  sel 
dom  puts  forth  more  than  a  minimum  of  his  strength.  When  occasions 
arise  of  such  interest  or  importance  as  to  thoroughly  arouse  him,  he  dis 
plays  powers  of  argument,  ridicule  and  irony,  amounting  to  genius. 
None  of  these  outbursts  are  the  result  of  preparation  ;  they  come  from  a 
sudden  impulse,  like  an  inspiration  ;  they  are  eloquence  in  words  and 
action — quick,  apropos  and  decisive.  His  antagonist  is  first  astonished, 
then  confounded,  then  overwhelmed  ;  without  the  opportunity  or  power 
of  resistance,  he  is  seized  and  subdued,  as  by  a  coup  de  main. 
1 


98  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    STATES. 

impetuosity  of  their  young  warriors  by  throwing  their  bows  and 
arrows  into  the  two  canoes,  as  a  token  of  peace  and  welcome. 
Having  been  hospitably  entertained  by  these  Indians,  they  were 
escorted  the  following  day  by  a  deputation  in  a  canoe,  which  pre 
ceded  them  as  far  as  the  village  of  Akamsea  (Arkansas).  Here 
they  were  received  most  kindly ;  the  natives  continually  bringing 
wooden  dishes  of  sagamity — Indian  corn — or  pieces  of  dog  flesh, 
which  were,  of  course,  respectfully  declined.  These  Indians 
cooked  in  earthen  pots,  and  served  their  food  on  earthenware 
dishes ;  were  very  amiable  and  unceremonious,  each  man  helping 
himself  from  the  dish,  and  passing  it  on  to  his  neighbor. 

It  was  here  that  the  travelers  wisely  terminated  their  explora 
tions.  "M.  Joliet  and  I,"  says  Marquette,  "held  a  council  to 
deliberate  on  what  we  should  do — whether  we  should  push  on,  or 
rest  satisfied  with  the  discoveries  we  had  made.  After  having 
attentively  considered  that  we  were  not  far  from  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  the  basin  of  which  is  31°  40'  north,  and  we  at  33°  40', 
so  that  we  could  not  be  more  than  two  or  three  days'  journey  off; 
that  the  Mississippi  undoubtedly  had  its  mouth  in  Florida,  or  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  not  on  the  east,  in  Virginia,  whose  seacoast 
is  34°  north.  Moreover,  we  considered  that  we  risked  losing  the 
fruit  of  our  voyage  if  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards, 
who  would  undoubtedly  make  us  prisoners ;  and  that  we  were  not 
in  condition  to  resist  the  Indians  who  infested  the  lower  parts  of 
the  river.  All  these  considerations  induced  us  to  return.  This 
we  announced  to  the  Indians,  and,  after  a  day's  rest,  prepared  for 
it." 

On  their  return,  they  left  the  Mississippi  at  the  thirty-eighth 
degree  of  latitude,  and  entered  the  Illinois  River,  which  greatly 
shortened  their  voyage.  The  country  through  which  this  river 
flows  was  found  to  be  full  of  fertile  and  beautiful  prairies,  abound 
ing  in  wild  ducks,  swans,  parrots,  and  turkeys.  The  tribe  of 
Illinois  living  on  its  banks  entreated  Marquette  and  his  compan 
ions  to  come  and  live  with  them ;  but  as  Marquette  intimated  his 
anxiety  to  continue  his  voyage,  a  chosen  party  conducted  him  by 
way  of  Chicago  to  Lake  Michigan ;  and  before  the  end  of  Sep 
tember  all  were  once  more  safely  landed  at  Green  Bay.  Joliet 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


99 


returned  to  Quebec  to  announce  the  discoveries  they  had  made, 
whilst  Marquette  remained  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  Miamis,  near 
Chicago. 

Father  James  Marquette  having  promised  the  Illinois  Indians 


THOMAS  P.  SHELDON, 

THOMAS  P.  SHELDON,  a  leading  banker  of  East  Saginaw,  Michigan, 
was  born  in  White  Pigeon,  St.  Joseph  county,  Michigan,  in  1832.  His 
parents  removed  to  Detroit  when  he  was  but  a  child,  where  he  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1862,  when  he  permanently  located  in  East  Saginaw, 
taking  charge  of  the  Saginaw  Valley  Bank.  In  1867  he  severed  his  con 
nection  with  that  institution,  and  organized  a  Savings  Bank  in, that  city, 
which  he  is  still  conducting  with  marked  ability. 

Mr.  Sheldon  is  an  energetic  business  man,  well  qualified  to  manage  the 


100  GENERAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

to  return  among  them  to  teach  them  the  gospel,  had  great  diffi 
culty  in  keeping  his  word.  The  hardships  of  his  first  voyage  had 
brought  on  a  disease  which  deterred  him  from  undertaking  a 
second.  His  malady,  however,  abating,  and  having  obtained  the 
permission  of  his  superiors,  he  set  out  for  this  purpose  in  the  month 
of  November,  1674,  with  two  men,  one  of  whom  had  already 
made  his  first  voyage  with  him.  During  a  month's  navigation  on 
the  Illinois  Lake — Lake  Michigan — his  health  became  partially 
restored ;  but  when  winter  set  in,  his  old  malady  returned  with 
increased  violence,  and  he  was  forced  to  stop  in  the  river  which 
leads  to  the  Illinois.  Here  he  spent  the  winter  in  such  want  of 
every  comfort,  that  his  illness  constantly  increased.  The  ice 
breaking  up  on  the  approach  of  spring,  and  feeling  somewhat  bet 
ter,  he  continued  his  voyage,  and  at  length  was  enabled  to  fulfill 
his  promise  to  the  Illinois,  arriving  at  their  town  on  the  8th  of 
April,  where  he  was  enthusiastically  received.  Being  compelled 
to  leave  them  by  the  return  of  his  malady,  he  resumed  his  voyage, 
and  soon  after  reached  the  Illinois  Lake.  His  strength  gradually 
failed  as  he  sailed  along  the  shores  of  the  lake,  and  his  men 
despaired  of  being  able  to  carry  him  alive  to  the  end  of  his  jour 
ney.  Perceiving  a  little  river,  with  an  eminence  on  the  bank  not 
far  from  its  mouth,  at  his  request  his  companions  sailed  into  it, 
and  carried  him  ashore.  Here  they  constructed  a  "  wretched  bark 
cabin,  where  they  laid  him  as  little  uncomfortably  as  they  could  ; 
but  they  were  so  overcome  by  sadness  that,  as  they  afterward  said, 
they  did  not  know  what  they  were  doing."  Perceiving  his  end 
approaching,  he  called  his  companions  and  embraced  them  for  the 
last  time,  they  melting  in  tears  at  his  feet.  He  then  directed  that 
his  crucifix,  which  he  wore  constantly  around  his  neck,  should  be 
held  before  his  eyes ;  and  after  repeating  the  profession  of  his 
faith,  he  devoutly  thanked  God  for  his  gracious  kindness  in  allow 
ing  him  to  die  as  a  humble  missionary  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  above 
all  to  die  as  he  had  always  prayed  that  he  might  die — in  a  rude 

affairs  of,  a  banking  institution,  and  the  material  success  which  he  has 
fairly  earned  is  alike  beneficial  to  himself  and  to  the  place  in  which  he 
has  labored. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  101 

cabin  in  the  forests,  destitute  of  all  human  aid.  He  afterwards 
became  silent,  his  whole  appearance  denoting  that  he  was  con 
versing  inwardly  with  God.  His  countenance  then  suddenly 
brightened  with  a  smile,  and  he  expired  without  a  struggle. 

His  two  poor  broken-hearted  companions,  after  shedding  many 
tears  over  his  inanimate  body,  carried  it  devoutly  to  the  grave, 
and  raised  a  large  cross  near  it,  to  serve  as  a  mark  to  passers  by. 

Did  the  savages  respect  that  cross  ?  They  did.  We  can  pro 
nounce  no  higher  enlogium  on  Father  James  Marquette,  than  the 
fact  that  the  Kiskakon  Indians,  to  whom  he  had  preached  the 
gospel,  returning  from  hunting  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Illinois, 
repaired  to  the  missionary's  grave,  and,  after  mature  deliberation, 
resolved  to  act  with  their  father  as  they  usually  did  with  the  best 
beloved  of  their  own  tribe.  They  reverently  disinterred  the 
remains,  and  putting  them  into  a  neatly  constructed  box  of  birch 
bark,  removed  them  from  the  wilderness  to  the  nearest  Catholic 
church,  where  they  were  solemnly  buried  with  appropriate  cere 
monies. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


ROBERT  DE  LA  SALLE —  FIRST  VESSEL  ON  LAKE  ERIE  —  Loss  OF  THE 
GRIFFIN — UNFORTUNATE  EXPEDITION  IN  SEARCH  OF  THE  MISSIS 
SIPPI —  MUTINOUS  CONDUCT  OF  LA  SALLE'S  MEN  — DEATH  OF  LA 
SALLE  —  His  CHARACTER  —  FATE  OF  His  COMPANIONS. 

ABOUT  the  time  of  the  death  of  Father  Marquette  there  dwelt, 
at  the  outlet  of  Lake  Ontario,  Robert  Cavalier  de  la  Salle,  an 
adventurer  of  good  family,  who  was  educated  by  the  Jesuits. 
He  was  engaged  in  the  fur  trade  with  the  Indians,  in  the  prosecu 
tion  of  which  he  had  explored  Lakes  Ontario  and  Erie.  His 
energy  and  ability  having  attracted  the  attention  of  Frontenac, 
the  French  Governor,  he  repaired  to  France,  and,  aided  by  Fron 
tenac,  obtained  a  patent  of  nobility,  a  monopoly  of  the  trade  with 
the  Iroquois,  and  an  extensive  tract  of  country  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Fort  Frontenac,  on  the  condition  of  his  keeping  the  fort 
in  an  effective  state.  Around  this  stronghold  soon  clustered  the 
huts  of  Indians  and  the  dwellings  of  French  traders.  Their 
flocks  and  herds  increased,  pasture-land  and  corn-covered  clear 
ings  opened  up  the  forest;  groups  of  Iroquois  built  their  cabins 
in  the  environs ;  the  missionaries  commenced  their  labors ;  canoes 
multiplied  upon  the  borders  of  the  lake;  and  La  Salle,  but  yes 
terday  a  poor  adventurer,  suddenly  found  himself  invested  with 
all  the  power  and  opulence  belonging  to  a  feudal  sovereign  in  the 
wilderness. 

But  his  ambitious  spirit  would  not  let  him  rest  contented  with 
what  he  had  acquired.  Having  heard  of  the  mighty  river  of  the 
far  West,  and  the  discoveries  of  Marquette,  his  imagination 
became  inflamed,  and  he  was  induced  to  undertake  schemes  of 
colonization  and  aggrandizement,  which  ended  in  disaster  and 
death. 

In  1677  La  Salle  sailed  to  France  and  sought  an  interview  with 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN. 


103 


Colbert,  then  prime  minister.  To  him  he  proposed  the  union  of 
New  France  with  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  suggested 
their  close  connection  by  a  line  of  military  posts.  He  proposed 
also  to  open  the  commerce  of  Europe  to  them  both.  Colbert  lis- 


HON.  JONATHAN  B.  TUTTLE. 

JONATHAN  BROWNE  TUTTLE,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  at 
Lodi,  Medina  County,  Ohio,  on  the  loth  day  of  August,  1841.  His  par 
ents  were  New  England  people,  who  emigrated  to  Ohio  at  an  early  day. 
Mr.  Tuttle's  early  life  was  spent  in  his  native  village,  and  his  education 
obtained  in  the  local  schools  and  at  Oberlin  College.  At  the  age  of  sev 
enteen  Mr.  Tuttle  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Wm.  F.  Moore, 
and  afterwards  pursued  a  regular  course  of  study  at  the  Ohio  State  and 
Union  Law  College,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  in  the  early 


104  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

tened  with  delight  to  the  gigantic  schemes  of  the  young  enthusiast, 
and  a  royal  commission  was  soon  procured,  empowering  him  to 
explore  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  giving  him  an  exclusive 
monopoly  in  the  trade  of  buffalo  skins. 

On  the  14th  of  July,  1678,  La  Salle  sailed  from  France  with 
all  needful  supplies  for  the  voyage,  and  merchandise  for  the  Indian 
trade,  and  in  the  month  of  September  arrived  again  at  Fort 
Frontenac.  Having  built  "  a  wooden  canoe  "  of  ten  tons  burden, 
— the  first  that  ever  sailed  on  the  Niagara  River — he  ascended 
that  river  to 'the  vicinity,  of  the  great  falls,  and,  above  them,  com 
menced  building  a  ship  of  60  tons  burden,  which,  in  the  summer 
of  1679,  was  launched  on  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie,  amid  a  salvo 
from  his  artillery,  and  the  chanting  of  the  Te  Deum.  In  this 
vessel,  which  was  called  the  Griffin,  La  Salle  sailed  across  Lake 
Erie,  and  up  the  Detroit,  or  strait  which  separates  it  from  that 
limpid  sheet  of  water,  to  which  he  gave  the  appropriate  name  of 
Lake  St.  Clair ;  and  having  escaped  from  storms  on  Lake  Huron, 
and  constructed  a  trading-house  at  Mackinaw,  on  Lake  Michigan, 
he  cast  anchor  in  Green  Bay. 

In  Green  Bay  La  Salle  bartered  his  goods  with  the  natives  for 
a  rich  cargo  of  furs,  with  which  the  Griffin  was  loaded  and  sent 
back  to  Niagara,  that  the  peltry  might  be  sold  and  a  remittance 
made  to  his  creditors.  In  the  meantime  La  Salle  and  his  com 
panions,  pending  the  return  of  the  Griffiu  with  supplies,  ascended 
Lake  Michigan  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph,  where  the  mission 
ary  Allouez  had  established  a  station,  and  to  which  he  now  added 
a  fort,  known  as  the  Fort  of  the  Miamis.  His  whole  fortune 
depended  on  the  return  of  the  Griffin,  and  of  her  no  tidings  were . 

part  of  the  year  1862,  being  the  youngest  of  a  graduating  class  of  forty- 
five.  He  began  his  practice  the  same  year  at  Cleveland,  in  the  office  of 
General  John  Crowell. 

In  the  summer  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Tuttle  entered  the  Union  ariny  as 
a  private  soldier,  and,  after  passing  through  various  grades  of  promotion 
to  that  of  captain  of  infantry,  was  honorably  discharged,  by  reason  of 
physical  disability,  in  the  summer  of  1864.  Soon  after  leaving  the  army, 
Mr.  Tuttle  located  at  the  city  of  Alpena,  which  then  was  a  small  hamlet, 
and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law. 


OP   MICHIGAN.  105 

heard.  Wearied  with  delay,  he  resolved  to  explore  the  Illinois 
territory ;  and  leaving  ten  men  to  guard  his  little  fort,  La  Salle, 
with  a  chosen  body  of  thirty  followers,  ascended  the  St.  Joseph's 
River,  and  transporting  his  bark  canoes  across  a  short  portage, 
entered  the  Kankakee,  a  branch  of  the  Illinois  River.  Descend 
ing  its  narrow  stream,  the  travelers  reached,  by  the  end  of  Decem 
ber,  an  Indian  village  on  the  Illinois,  the  natives  of  which  were 
absent  on  a  hunting  expedition.  Being  in  great  want  of  provi 
sions,  La  Salle  took  advantage  of  their  absence  to  help  himself  to 
a  sufficiency  of  maize,  of  which  his  followers  found  large  quanti 
ties  hidden  in  holes  under  their  wigwams.  The  corn  having  been 
shipped  they  again  set  sail,  and  on  the  4th  of  January,  1680, 
entered  Lake  Peoria.  The  Illinois  Indians  on  the  banks  of  this 
lake  were  friendly,  and  here  La  Salle  erected  another  fort.  As  no 
tidings  had  been  received  of  his  missing  vessel,  to  proceed  farther 
without  supplies  was  impossible ;  his  followers  became  discouraged, 
and  in  great  despondency  he  named  his  new  fort  "  Creveco3ur  " — 
broken-hearted — in  memory  of  his  trials  and  misfortunes. 

La  Salle  now  perceived  that  he  must  go  back  himself  to  Fron- 
tenac  for  supplies ;  and  to  prevent  the  entire  stagnation  of  dis 
covery  during  his  absence,  he  requested  the  Jesuit  missionary, 
Father  Hennepin,  who  accompanied  the  expedition,  to  go  to  the 
Mississippi,  and  explore  that  stream  to  its  source,  whilst  Tbnti,  a 
veteran  Italian,  was  chosen  to  command  in  his  absence,  with 
instructions  to  endeavor  to  strengthen  and  extend  his  relations 
among  the  Indians.  He  then,  in  the  month  of  March,  1680,  with 
only  three  companions,  set  off  on  foot  to  travel  a  distance  of  at 
least  1,200  miles,  through  marshes  and  melting  snows,  through 
thickets  and  forests,  with  no  supplies  but  what  the  gun  afforded,  a 

In  1865  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ross,  a  Canadian  lady,  by  whom  he 
has  one  child — a  daughter. 

He  has  since  held  the  offices  of  judge  of  probate,  circuit  court  commis 
sioner,  prosecuting  attorney,  city  attorney,  and  various  other's,  and  con 
tinues  to  practice  his  profession  at  Alpena,  where  he  still  resides,  having 
been  identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  that  active  and 
nourishing  city.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State. 


106  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

blanket  and  a  few  skins,  with  which  to  make  moccasins,  or  Indian 
shoes.  No  record  exists  of  what  befell  him  on  that  long  journey, 
which  he,  however,  finally  accomplished. 

La  Salle  found,  as  he  fully  expected,  that  the  Griffin  had  been 
wrecked ;  that  his  agents  had  cheated  him ;  and  that  his  creditors 
had  seized  his  goods.  His  courage  overcame  every  difficulty  ;  and 
by  midsummer,  in  1680,  he  returned  once  more  to  his  little  garri 
son  in  Illinois,  with  a  body  of  new  adventurers,  large  supplies  of 
merchandise,  and  storas  for  rigging  a  brigantine.  But  disasters  had 
befallen  his  agents  during  his  absence,  and  the  post  in  Illinois 
was  deserted.  Having  succeeded  in  finding  Tonti,  and  collecting 
his  scattered  followers,  he  constructed  a  capacious  barge,  and  in 
the  early  part  of  January,  1682,  La  Salle  and  his  company 
descended  the  Mississippi  to  the  sea. 

They  landed  on  the  bank  of  the  most  western  channel,  about 
three  leagues  from  its  mouth.  On  the  7th,  La  Salle  went  to  recon 
noitre  the  shores  of  the  neighboring  sea,  while  Tonti  examined 
the  great  middle  channel.  They  found  there  two  outlets,  beauti 
ful,  large  and  deep.  On  the  8th  they  reascended  the  river  a  little 
above  its  confluence  with  the  sea,  to  find  a  dry  place  beyond  the 
reach  of  inundations.  Here  they  prepared  a  column  and  a  cross, 
and  to  the  said  column  they  affixed  the  arms  of  France,  with  this 
inscription  : 

"Louis  LE  GRAND,  Roi  DE  FRANCE  ET  DE  NAVARRE,  REGNE 

NEUVIEME   AVRIL,  1682." 

The  Te  Deum  was  then  sung,  and  after  a  salute  of  fire-arms,  the 
column  was  erected  by  La  Salle,  who  laid  claim  to  the  whole  of 
the  Mississippi  valley  for  the  French  king,  with  the  usual  formali 
ties.  After  erecting  another  fort,  called  St.  Louis,  and  giving  the 
title  of  Louisiana  to  the  newly  discovered  territory,  La  Salle,  in 
the  autumn  of  1683,  returned  in  triumph  to  France. 

The  account  given  by  him  of  the  extraordinary  beauty  of  the 
Mississippi  valley  created  the  utmost  enthusiasm  among  the 
French  people.  Preparations  were  immediately  commenced  by 
the  agents  of  the  king,  to  provide  an  extensive  outfit,  and  on  the 
24th  of  July,  1684,  four  vessels,  having  on  board  two  hundred 


108  GENERAL    HISTORY    OP    THE   STATES. 

and  eighty  persons,  ecclesiastics,  soldiers,  mechanics  and  emigrants, 
left  Kochelle  full  of  ardor  and  expectation,  for  the  far-famed 
country  of  Louisiana.  The  soldiers  had  for  their  commander, 
Joutel,  a  man  of  courage  and  truth,  who  afterwards  became  the 
historian  of  this  disastrous  expedition. 

Misfortunes  overtook  them  from  the  very  commencement  of 
their  voyage.  Difficulties  arose  between  La  Salle  and  the  naval 
commander,  which  impeded  the  voyage ;  and  on  the  10th  of  Jan 
uary,  1685,  they  unfortunately  passed  the  mouth  of  the  Missis 
sippi.  La  Salle  soon  perceived  their  error,,  and  wished  to  return  ; 
but  this  the  commander  of  the  fleet  refused  to  do,  and  they  con 
tinued  their  course  until  they  arrived  at  the  Bay  of  Matagorda, 
in  Texas.  Completely  tired  of  disputes  with  Beaujeau,  the  naval 
commander,  and  conjecturing  that  the  numerous  streams  which 
had  their  outlet  in  the  bay,  might  be  branches  of  the  Mississippi, 
or  might  lead  to  its  discovery,  La  Salle  resolved  to  disembark. 
As  the  vessels  entered  the  harbor,  the  store-ship,  on  which  the 
infant  colony  mainly  depended,  was  completely  wrecked  by  the 
carelessness  of  the  pilot.  Calming  the  terrible  energy  of  his 
grief,  La  Salle,  by  the  aid  of  boats  from  the  other  vessels,  suc 
ceeded  in  recovering  a  part  of  the  cargo,  but  night  coming  on, 
and  with  it  a  gale  of  wind,  the  store-ship  was  utterly  dashed  to 
pieces.  To  add  to  their  distress,  a  party  of  Indians  came  down  to 
the  shore  to  plunder  the  wreck,  and  murdered  two  of  the  volun 
teers. 

Several  of  the  men  who  had  now  landed  became  discouraged, 
and  returned  to  the  fleet,  which  immediately  set  sail,  leaving  La 
Salle  with  a  desponding  company  of  two  hundred  and  thirty  souls, 
huddled  together  in  a  miserable  fort,  built  with  fragments  of  the 
wreck.  Stimulated  to  extraordinary  efforts  by  the  energy  and 
example  of  La  Salle,  a  beautiful  spot  was  selected,  and  a  more 
substantial  and  comfortable  fort  constructed.  La  Salle  was  the 
architect,  and  marked  the  beams,  mortises  and  tenons  himself. 
This  was  the  first  settlement  made  in  Texas.  Desperate  and  des 
titute  as  was  the  situation  of  the  settlers,  they  still  exceeded  in 
numbers  those  who  landed  in  Virginia,  or  those  who  embarked  on 
board  the  Mayflower,  and  possessed  "from  the  bounty  of  Louis 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN.  109 

XIV,  more  than  was  contributed  by  all  the  English  monarchs 
together,  for  the  twelve  united  colonies  on  the  Atlantic." 

The  summer  of  1685  was  spent  in  the  construction  of  this 
second  fort,  which  was  named  Fort  St.  Louis,  and  La  Salle,  having 
finished  its  erection,  set  out  with  a  selected  party  in  canoes,  in 
search  of  the  Mississippi.  After  an  absence  of  about  four  months, 
he  returned  in  rags,  having  lost  twelve  or  thirteen  of  his  men,  and 
completely  failed  in  his  object.  His  presence,  however,  as  usual, 
inspired  hope ;  and  in  April,  1686,  another  expedition  was 
attempted,  which  was  lured  into  the  interior  by  brilliant  fictions 
of  exhaustless  mines  on  the  borders  of  Mexico.  This  expedition 
returned  without  effecting  any  other  discovery  than  that  of  the 
great  exuberance  and  fertility  of  the  soil  in  the  immediate  neigh 
borhood  of  the  fort.  La  Salle  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  sup 
ply  of  maize  and  beans,  and  five  horses  from  the  Indians,  but  had 
suffered  greatly ;  and  of  the  twenty  men  he  had  taken  with  him 
only  eight  returned,  the  remainder  having  either  fallen  sick,  died, 
or  deserted.  Affairs  had  been  equally  unprosperous  at  Fort  St. 
Louis,  during  his  absence.  The  only  remaining  ship  was  a  wreck, 
and  the  colony  had  been  rapidly  thinned  by  privation,  misery  and 
exposure,  until  there  remained  nothing  but  a  mere  handful  of 
desperate,  disappointed  men. 

Amid  the  ruin  of  all  his  prospects,  once  so  proud  and  flourish 
ing,  La  Salle  alone  remained  undaunted ;  and,  as  a  last  resource, 
determined  to  visit  the  French  settlements  in  Illinois,  or,  if  neces 
sary,  his  feudal  domain  in  Frontenac,  in  order  to  bring  aid  to 
his  perishing  colony.  On  the  12th  of  January,  1687,  La  Salle 
set  out  on  his  last  expedition,  accompanied  by  Joutel,  across  the 
prairies  and  forests  of  Louisiana.  In  his  company  were  two  men, 
Duhaut  and  L'Archeveque,  who  had  both  embarked  capital  in 
this  enterprise.  Each  regarded  the  other  for  immediate  purposes 
as  his  friend ;  and  both  were  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  bitterness  and 
animosity  against  La  Salle,  whom  they  regarded  as  the  author  of 
all  the  calamities  that  had  befallen  them.  Moranget,  a  nephew 
of  La  Salle,  was  also  one  of  the  party  following  the  tracks  of 
buffaloes,  who  chose  by  instinct  the  best  routes.  La  Salle  marched 
through  groves  and  plains  of  astonishing  fertility  and  beauty; 


110  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

now  fording  the  rapid  torrents,  and  now  building  a  bridge  by 
throwing  some  monarch  of  the  forest  across  the  stream,  until  he 
had  passed  the  Colorado,  and  came  to  a  branch  of  the  Trinity 
River. 

On  the  17th  of  March,  1687,  the  whole  party  engaged  in  a  buf 
falo  hunt.  Duhaut  and  L'Archeveque,  having  been  successful, 
sent  their  commander  word,  who  immediately  despatched  his 
nephew  Moranget  to  the  camp.  When  Moranget  came  to  the 
spot  where  Duhaut  and  the  rest  were  stopping,  he  found  they  had 
reserved  for  themselves  the  very  best  parts  of  the  buffaloes ;  and 
hasty  and  passionate,  not  considering  where  he  was,  nor  with  whom 
he  was  dealing,  he  "  took  from  them  their  choice  pieces,  threatened 
them,  and  spoke  harsh  words."  This  enraged  the  mutinous  spirits 
of  Duhaut  and  his  companions,  who  secretly  took  counsel  together 
how  to  effect  the  destruction  of  Moranget  and  his  associates. 
Night  came  on  apace,  and  Moranget  and  his  party  having  supped, 
wearied  with  their  day's  travel,  laid  themselves  down  to  sleep  on 
the  prairie.  Liotot,  the  surgeon,  now  took  an  axe,  and  with  a  few 
strokes  killed  Moranget  and  his  comrades.  Having  good  reason 
to  fear  the  resentment  of  La  Salle,  the  murderers  next  resolved 
to  kill  him  also.  Surprised  at  his  nephew's  delay,  La  Salle  went 
forth  on  the  20th  to  seek  him.  Perceiving  at  a  distance  birds  of 
prey,  hovering  as  if  over  carrion,  and  suspecting  himself  to  be  in 
the  immediate  neighborhood  of  his  men,  La  Salle  fired  a  gun, 
which  was  heard  by  the  conspirators,  who  were  thus  made  aware 
of  his  approach.  Duhaut  and  his  associate  hastened  secretly  to 
meet  their  victim — the  former  skulking  in  the  grass,  the  latter 
showing  himself.  "  Where,"  said  La  Salle  to  L'Archeveque,  "  is 
my  nephew."  Before  an  answer  could  be  returned,  Duhaut  fired 
and  La  Salle  fell  dead  on  the  prairie.  The  murderers  then 
approached,  and,  with  cruel  taunts,  stripped  the  corpse,  leaving  it 
naked  and  unburied,  to  be  devoured  by  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
wilderness. 

Thus  perished  La  Salle,  and  with  him  that  colonial  settlement 
which  he  had  attempted  to  form.  His  fortitude  and  bravery  must 
ever  command  admiration,  while  his  cruel  and  undeserved  death 
awakens  feelings  of  pity  and  indignation.  Although  he  was  not 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  Ill 

the  discoverer,  yet  he  was  certainly  the  first  settler  of  the  Mississippi 
valley,  and  the  father  of  colonization  in  the  "far  West."  As  such 
his  memory  is  imperishable,  and  will  ever  be  honored.  The  Illinois 
settlements  of  Peoria,  Kaskaskias,  and  Cahokia,  are  the  fruit  of 
La  Salle's  labors.  It  is  true  he  did  not  found  these  places,  yet  he 
gave  them  their  inhabitants,  for  it  was  by  those  whom  he  led 
into  the  West  that  they  were  peopled.  Perseverance  and  courage, 
combined  with  a  noble  ambition  to  promote  the  interests  of  his 
country,  led  him  into  a  gallant  but  unsuccessful  career  of  enter 
prise.  He  did  what  he  could  to  benefit  his  country ;  and  if  he 
had  lived  he  might  have  achieved  much  more  splendid  results. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


THE  SAULT  STE.  MARIE  —  FORT  ST.  JOSEPH  —  DETROIT  FOUNDED  —  ITS 
EARLY  CONDITION  —  ATTACKED  BY  THE  OTTAWAS  —  BY  THE  FOXES- 
EARLY  FRENCH  TRAVELERS  THROUGH  THE  LAKE  REGION. 

No  SETTLEMENT  had  at  this  time  been  made  at  Detroit,  because 
the  traders  and  Jesuit  missionaries  had  a  more  direct  and  safer 
route  to  the  upper  lakes,  from  Montreal  to  Michilimackinac,  by 
the  way  of  the  Ottawa  River.  But  this  point  had  long  been 
regarded  an  eligible  position  for  a  settlement,  as  it  commanded  a 
broad  tract  of  country,  and  stood,  as  it  were,  at  the  gate  of  the 
upper  lakes,  in  a  direct  route  from  these  lakes  to  the  English  col 
onies  of  New  York,  by  the  way  of  Lake  Erie. 

The  French  and  English  both  desired  to  obtain  possession  of 
this  post.  But  while  the  English  were  looking  to  its  acquisition, 
they  were  anticipated  by  their  rivals.  Taking  counsel  from  the 
movements  of  their  opponents,  the  French  called  a  grand  meeting 
of  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  at  Montreal.  The  chiefs  of  the 
different  tribes  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Mississippi,  attended 
this  meeting ;  also  the  principal  men  and  the  Governor-General  of 
Canada.  Here  the  establishment  of  a  post  at  that  place  was  dis 
cussed,  and  the  grounds  on  which  the  two  nations  based  their 
claims  to  it  weighed.  The  Iroquois,  however,  said  that,  under 
standing  the  French  were  about  to  make  a  settlement  at  that 
point,  they  were  opposed  to  the  measure,  as  they  had  already  pro 
hibited  the  English  from  doing  the  same.  The  Governor-General 
of  Canada  replied  that  the  land  belonged  neither  to  the  Iroquois 
nor  to  to  the  English,  but  to  the  King  of  France,  and  that  there 
was  already  an  expedition  on  the  march  for  the  purpose  of  erect 
ing  a  colonial  establishment  at  that  place.  In  accordance  with 
this  plan,  Antoiue  de  la  Motte  Cadillac,  lord  of  Bouaget,  Mont 
Desert,  having  been  granted  a  tract  of  fifteen  acres  square,  by 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


113 


Louis  XIV,  left  Montreal,  accompanied  by  a  Jesuit  missionary 
and  one  hundred  men,  and  arrived  at  the  point  of  the  wilderness 
which  is  now  the  site  of  Detroit,  in  the  month  of  July,  1701,  where 
they  commenced  the  foundation  of  the  first  permanent  settlement 


GEN.  JOSEPH   O.   HUDNUT. 

JOSEPH  OPDYKE  HUDNUT,  son  of  Edward  and  Susan  (Opdyke)  Hudnut, 
was  born  at  West  Sparta,  Livingston  county,  New  York,  June  80,  1824. 
He  prepared  for  college  at  Genesee  Academy,  New  York,  under  Prof. 
Robinson,  author  of  Robinson's  series  of  mathematics.  Since  gradua 
tion  he  has  been  engaged  mostly  in  civil  engineering,  with  the  exception 
of  two  years  and  a  half  in  the  army  during  the  war  of  secession.  In  the 
fall  of  1849  he  entered  on  his  engineering  profession,  being  engaged  on 
the  State  canals  of  New  York.  He  remained  on  the  canals  during  1849, 
8 


114  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    STATES. 

in  Michigan.  Before,  it  had  only  been  known  by  the  French 
missionaries  as  a  trading  post,  and  in  1620  it  was  occupied  by  an 
Indian  village,  which  was  called  Teuchsa  Grondie.  The  TSault 
Ste.  Marie,  as  we  have  seen,  had  at  that  time  been  founded,  and  a 
rude  post  was  also  erected  at  Fort  Gratiot,  which  was  a  resting- 
point  for  the  fur  trade. 

This  chain  of  fortifications  was  all  the  defense  which  was  con 
structed  upon  the  lake  shores  for  nearly  a  century  and  a  half,  and 
it  comprised  a  part  of  that  line  of  forts  that  was  projected  by  La 
Salle,  extending  from  the  St.  Lawrence  down  the  Mississippi  to 
New  Orleans.  Their  object  was  to  furnish  outposts  by  which  the 
territory  of  Canada  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes  could  be  held,  the 
English  settlements  hemmed  in,  the  Jesuit  missionaries  and  set 
tlers  protected  against  the  numerous  and  capricious  tribes  of  sav 
ages  in  this  quarter,  and  by  which  the  fur  trade  might  circulate, 
with  full  success,  along  the  lakes  and  streams  of  the  Northwest. 
The  forts  of  Detroit,  Michilimackinac,  St.  Joseph  and  Green  Bay, 
were  of  rude  construction,  and  the  chapels  erected  by  their  sides 
were  used  for  the  religious  assemblies  of  the  French  settlers,  who 
were  from  thai  time  collected  around  the  posts,  and  also  for  the 
Indians  who  were  under  the  special  guardianship  of  the  Jesuit 
missionaries.  These  structures,  minute  points  on  the  borders  of 
the  forest,  were  either  roofed  with  bark  or  thatched  with  straw, 
and  on  their  top  was  generally  erected  the  cross.  Tribes  of 
friendly  Indians  that  could  be  induced  to  settle  near  them,  had 

1850  and  1851.  In  the  spring  of  1852  he  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and 
run  the  first  survey  of  the  railroad  from  Memphis  to  Clarksville,  Tenn. 
In  1853,  1854  and  1855,  he  was  on  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  and  Louis 
ville  &  Covington  Railroads,  in  Kentucky.  In  1855  he  removed  to 
Waverly,  Iowa,  and  in  that  year  and  in  1856  he  was  on  the  Iowa  Central 
R.  R.  In  1858  he  taught  mathematics  in  the  Genesee  Academy,  and  in 
1859  he  taught  in  the  Chicago  High  School.  In  the  spring  of  1860  he 
returned  to  Iowa,  and  was  engaged  as  civil  engineer  on  the  Hannibal  & 
St.  Joseph  R. -R.  In  the  winter  of  1861-2  he  was  a  member  of  the  Iowa 
Legislature,  and  in  May,  1862,  he  entered  the  army  as  Major  of  the  38th 
Regiment  of  Iowa  Volunteers.  He  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Colonel  and  Brigadier-General.  While  in  the  army  he  was  much  on 
detached  service  as  military  engineer,  most  of  the  time  on  the  fortifica- 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN.  115 

their  villages  or  wigwams  around  these  posts,  and  also  their  plant 
ing  grounds,  in  which  they  cultivated  Indian  corn,  not  only  for 
the  French  settlers,  but  also  for  the  persons  connected  with  the  fur 
trade.  They  derive  their  principal  importance  from  the  fact  that 
they  were  the  only  outposts  of  the  French  government  in  this 
country  before  the  English  conquest,  and,  consequently,  the  thea 
tres  of  the  most  interesting  frontier  operations. 

About  three  years  after  Detroit  was  founded,  the  Ottawa  Indians 
in  that  vicinity  were  invited  to  Albany,  in  New  York,  upon  what 
was  supposed  to  be  a  friendly  visit.  As  St.  Joseph  was  surrounded 
by  villages  of  the  Hurons,  Pottawatomies,  and  Miamis,  so  also 
was  Detroit,  at  that  time,  guarded  by  parts  of  the  friendly  tribes 
of  the  Hurons  and  Pottawatomies  near  the  settlements,  and  an 
Ottawa  village  had  been  erected  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river. 
It  would  appear  that  while  the  Ottawas  were  in  Albany,  they  had 
been  persuaded  by  the  English,  who  even  then  wished  to  obtain 
possession  of  the  post  of  their  rivals,  that  it  was  the  design  of  the 
French  to  wrest  the  dominion  of  the  country  from  their  hands ; 
and  they  accordingly  set  fire  to  the  town,  but  without  success,  as 
the  fire  was' soon  extinguished.  At  this  time,  also,  groups  of  sav 
ages  of  the  same  tribe,  having  made  a  successful  expedition  against 
their  enemies  the  Iroquois,  and  warm  with  victory,  were  seen 
parading  in  hostile  array  in  front  of  the  fort ;  but  M.  Tonti,  who 
was  the  commandant  of  the  post,  despatching  the  Sieur  de  Vin- 


tions  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  and  afterwards  in  building  a  military  railroad 
fronr  Brazos  Harbor  to  Brownsville,  Texas,  with  a  shell  bridge  across  the 
Boca  Chica.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  was  elected  Professor  of  Civil 
Engineering  in  the  University  of  Chicago,  which  position  he  still  retains, 
with  occasional  leave  of  absence  for  engineering  purposes.  In  1860  he 
made  a  survey  and  the  estimates  for  a  ship  canal  from  Lake  Michigan  to 
the  Mississippi  river.  In  1867  he  was  on  the  location  of  the  Chicago, 
Rock  Island  &  Pacific  R.  R.,  and  the  location  of  the  bridge  at  Omaha, 
Nebraska.  In  February,  1868,  he  went  on  the  Union  Pacific  R.  R,, 
and  located  nearly  all  that  part  of  it  from  the  North  Platte  river  to  the 
Humboldt  Wells,  and  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1868  and  1869  he  ran 
the  preliminary  surveys  for  a  railroad  from  the  north  end  of  Salt  Lake, 
through  Idaho  and  Oregon,  to  Portland,  Oregon,  and  Puget  Sound. 
Afterwards  he  was  engaged  as  civil  engineer  on  the  St.  Paul  &  Chicago 


116  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

cennes  against  them,  he  dispersed  their  bands,  and  rescued  the 
Iroquois  prisoners  whom  they  left  behind  them  in  their  flight. 

The  progress  of  operation  on  the  lake  shores  was  not  at  this 
period  marked  with  any  very  great  interest,  as  the  settlements 
were  few ;  but  they  reflect,  nevertheless,  the  spirit  which  prevailed 
in  France  during  their  continuance.  The  lands  lay  sleeping  in 
their  original  silence  and  solitude,  undisturbed  by  the  plow. 
Occasionally  the  settlers  may  have  been  surprised  by  their  ancient 
enemies  the  Iroquois,  but  the  appearance  of  parts  of  these  nations 
excited  only  a  surprise  which  soon  settled  down  into  peace.  But 
in  1712,  the  Ottagamies  or  Foxes,  who  had  been  before  but  little 
known,  but  who  were  probably  in  secret  alliance  with  the  Iroquois, 
projected  a  plan  for  the 'destruction  of  Detroit.  They  made  their 
arrangements  in  secret,  and  sent  their  bands  to  collect  around  the 
new  French  settlement,  which  was  then  garrisoned  by  a  force  of 
twenty  soldiers,  of  whom  M.  Du  Buisson  was  the  commandant. 
The  occupants  of  the  three  French  villages  of  Indians,  the  Otta- 
was,  Pottawatomies,  and  Hurons,  were  then  absent  on  a  hunting 
excursion.  A  converted  Indian,  however,  under  the  influence  of 
a  Jesuit  missionary,  disclosed  their  plot  before  it  was  ripe  for  exe 
cution,  and  Du  Buisson  immediately  sent  dispatches  through  the 
forest  to  call  in  the  aid  of  the  friendly  Indians,  and  prepare  for  an 
effective  defense. 

On  the  13th  of  May  of  that  year,  the  Foxes  made  their  onset 
upon  Detroit  with  fiendish  yells.  No  sooner,  however,  was  the 


R.  R,  with  headquarters  at  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Later  he  was  Chief 
Engineer  of  the  Grand  Rapids  &  Indiana  R.  R. ,  in  the  employ  of  the 
Continental  Improvement  Company.  In  1871  he  went  to  the  South  in 
the  employ  of  a  company  of  which  Gen.  George  W.  Cass  was  president, 
and  has  been  engaged  in  various  railroad  projects  in  that  section  ever 
since.  His  present  headquarters  are  at  Greenville,  S.  C.,  but  his  perma 
nent  residence  is  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan. 

Gen.  Hudnut  is  a  very  eminent  locating  engineer,  having  within  the 
last  twenty  years  located  thousands  of  miles  of  railroad  most  skillfully. 

He  married  Miss  Marcia  Webster,  at  Lima,  N.  Y.,  October  23,  1851. 
He  has  had  two  children,  viz:  Edward  Webster  Hudnut,  born  December 
15,  1852,  and  Byron  Murray  Hudnut,  born  March  21,  1858  ;  died  June 
21,  1860. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


117 


attack  commenced,  than  portions  of  the  friendly  Indians  were  seen 
through  the  wilderness,  painted  for  battle  as  is  their  custom,  and 
the  gates  of  the  fort  were  opened  to  receive  them.  A  consultation 
was  now  held  at  the  council  house,  and  they  renewed  their  league 


HON.  J.  W.  BEGOLE. 

JOSIAH  W.  BEGOLE,  the  present  Representative  in  Congress  from  the 
Sixth  District  of  Michigan,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Groveland,  Livings 
ton  county,  New  York,  on  the  20th  of  January,  1815.  His  younger  days 
were  spent  on  a  farm,  where  he  received  that  physical  training  and  cul 
ture  which  contributed  largely  to  his  health  and  prosperity  in  after  years. 
Mr.  Begole  received  a  common  school  and  academic  education  in  his 
native  State,  and  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1836,  settling  in  the  then  town 
of  Flint,  where  he  still  resides. 


118  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    STATES. 

with  Du  Buisson,  and  expressed  their  determination,  if  necessary, 
to  die  in  the  defense  of  the  post.  On  the  arrival  of  the  friendly 
Indians,  the  Foxes  retreated  to  the  forest  which  now  adjoins  the 
eastern  boundary  of  Detroit,  and  intrenched  themselves  in  their 
camp. 

The  French  then  sallied  out  from  the  fort,  and,  backed  by  their 
savage  allies,  erected  a  block-house  in  front  of  their  camp,  in 
order  to  force  the  enemy  from  their  position.  Here  the  latter 
were  closely  besieged;  being  cut  off  from  their  supply  of  water, 
and  driven  to  desperation  by  thirst  and  famine,  they  in  turn 
rushed  out  from  their  strongholds  upon  the  French  and  the 
friendly  Indians,  and  succeeded  in  getting  possession  of  a  house 
near  the  village.  This  house  they  fortified,  but  they  were  here 
attacked  by  the  French  cannon,  and  driven  back  to  their  former 
intrenchment. 

Finding  that  their  attack  was  likely  to  prove  unsuccessful,  the 
Foxes  now  sent  despatches  to  the  French  commandant  asking  for 
peace,  which  was  denied  them.  Upon  this  they  considered  them 
selves  insulted,  and,  burning  with  revenge,  they  discharged  showers 
of  blazing  arrows  upon  the  fort.  The  lighted  matches  they  had 
affixed  to  their  arrows  coming  in  contact  with  the  dry  roof's  of  the 
houses,  kindled  them  into  flame,  when  the  precaution  was  taken 
to  cover  the  rest  with  wet  skins,  and  by  this  means  they  were  pre 
served.  The  desperation  of  the  Foxes  almost  discouraged  the 
French  commandant,  and  he  had  nearly  determined  to  evacuate 


Mr.  Begole's  first  official  position  was  that  of  school  inspector  for  the 
township  of  Genesee,  which  office  he  held  from  1842  to  1844  inclusive. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  township  clerk  in  1845.  From  1840  to 
1853  he  was  an  active  justice  of  the  peace,  doing  most  of  the  business  for 
his  own  and  three  or  four  adjoining  towns,  never  trying  a  case  where  he 
could  prevail  upon  the  parties  to  settle  it.  In  1854  and  1855  he  held  the 
office  of  supervisor  in  the  same  town.  Performing  the  duties  of  these 
minor  offices  in  a  thorough  and  systematic  manner,  his  townsmen  saw 
fit  to  reward  his  services,  in  1856,  by  electing  him  county  treasurer  of 
Genesee  county,  to  which  position  he  was  reflected  three  times,  holding 
the  office  eight  consecutive  years. 

He,  although  constantly  engaged  in  other  business,  has  ever  been  a 
practical  and  successful  farmer,  devoting  considerable  time  to  bringing 


*  HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  119 

Detroit,  and  to  retire  to  Michilimackinac,  when  his  Indian  allies 
promised  to  redouble  their  efforts  for  his  defense ;  and  the  war- 
songs  and  dances  of  their  bands,  heard  through  the  solitude  of  the 
forest,  assured  him  that  a  more  desperate  effort  was  about  to  be 
made  in  his  behalf.  The  preparations  having  been  finished,  the 
French  and  Indians  advanced  upon  the  Foxes  with  more  deter 
mined  courage,  and,  pouring  upon  their  intrenchments  a  deadly 
fire,  they  were  soon  filled  with  the  dying  and  the  dead.  Once 
more  the  Foxes  demanded  peace.  Before  any  capitulation,  how 
ever,  was  completed,  the  enemy  retreated  towards  Lake  St.  Clair, 
during  a  storm  at  midnight,  on  the  nineteenth  day  of  the  siege. 

The  French  and  their  Indian  allies,  as  soon  as  they  discovered 
their  flight,  prepared  for  a  pursuit,  and  soon  came  upon  their 
camps.  An  action  began,  which  at  the  outset  was  in  favor  of  the 
Foxes,  the  French  and  Indians  being  repulsed.  But  a  different 
plan  of  operation  was  soon  after  adopted,  and  with  better  success. 
At  the  end  of  three  days  a  field  battery  was  completed,  and  the 
intrenchment  of  the  Foxes  fell  before  the  French  cannon. 

The  Foxes  may  be  considered  the  Ishmaelites  of  the  wilderness, 
for  they  were  at  enmity  with  all  the  tribes  on  the  lakes.  They 
collected  their  forces  on  the  Fox  River  of  Green  Bay,  where  they 
commanded  the  territory  between  the  lakes  and  the  Mississippi,  so 
that  it  was  dangerous  for  travelers  to  pass  through  that  region 
except  in  large  bodies,  and  armed,  while  their  warriors  were  sent 
out  to  seek  objects  of  plunder  and  devastation.  So  great  was  the 

that  great  branch  of  our  industry  as  near  perfection  as  possible.  In  1865 
he  commenced  his  career  as  a  lumberman  in  the  vast  pine  forests  of  our 
State,  and  has  ever  met  an  enviable  success  in  this  occupation,  in  which 
he  is  still  heavily  engaged. 

In  1869  he  was  again  called  upon  to  fill  an  important  political  position, 
being  elected  State  Senator  from  his  Senatorial  District,  the  duties  of 
which  office  he  performed  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  his  constituents. 
He  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  National  Republican  Convention,  which 
met  in  Philadelphia  during  the  summer  of  1872,  and  nominated  General 
Grant  for  President  the  second  time.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  was 
nominated  by  his  party  for  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Sixth 
District  of  this  State,  to  which  position  he  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority. 


120  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

danger  apprehended  by  the  missionaries  and  traders  in  passing 
through  that  territory,  as  well  as  by  the  French  settlers,  and  so 
great  the  injury  already  done  by  those  tribes,  that  an  expedition 
was  fitted  out  against  them  by  the  French,  backed  by  their  Indian 
allies,  who  were  rankling  under  a  sense  of  repeated  wrongs.  This 
warlike  nation  had  stationed  itself  on  the  banks  of  the  Fox  River, 
at  a  place  then  and  now  called  by  the  French  Butte  des  Morts,  or 
the  Hill  of  the  Dead,  defending  their  position  by  a  ditch  and  three 
courses  of  palisades.  Here  they  collected  their  women  and  chil 
dren,  and  prepared  for  a  desperate  resistance.  M.  de  Louvigny, 
the  commandant  of  the  expedition,  perceiving  the  strength  of 
their  works,  determined  not  to  expose  his  men  by  a  direct  attack, 
but  entered  upon  a  regular  siege,  and  was  preparing  for  the  final 
crisis  when  the  Foxes  proposed  a  capitulation.  This  was  accepted ; 
and  the  pride  of  the  Foxes  being  thus  humbled,  they  sank  into 
obscurity  during  the  remainder  of  the  French  war. 

Thus  it  is  seen  that,  although  the  few  French  forts  upon  the 
lakes  were  rudely  constructed,  and  but  poorly  adapted  to  make  a 
serious  and  effective  defense,  they  were  nevertheless  competent, 
with  their  small  garrisons,  to  protect  the  emigrants  against  the 
disaffected  tribes  which  were  from  time  to  time  arrayed  against 
them.  The  pickets  which  surrounded  them,  composed  of  upright 
stakes,  furnished  a  line  of  concealment  rather  than  strong  bul 
warks,  and,  together  with  the  light  cannon  with  which  they  were 
mounted,  enabled  the  French  to  suppress  the  disturbances  that 
occasionally  sprang  up  around  their  posts. 

The  early  missionaries  and  French  travelers  who  journeyed 
through  the  region  of  the  lakes  exhibit  a  peculiar  form  of  char 
acter.  Tinctured  with  the  spirit  which  prevailed  in  France  at  the 
period  of  their  immigration,  the  novel  scenes  around  them 
impressed  them  with  those  sentiments  of  romance  so  peculiar  to 
the  French.  They  show  the  spirit  under  which  the  missionaries 
and  soldiers  traveled,  and  the  eloquence  with  which  the  scenes 
around  them  tended  to  inspire  their  minds. 

The  forests  amid  which  their  lot  was  cast  were  calculated  to  fill 
them  with  wonder  and  admiration.  A  vast  chain  of  inland  seas, 
which  appeared  to  them  like  oceans,  stretched  a  watery  horizon 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  121 

along  the  borders  of  the  wilderness.  Flocks  of  water  fowl  of 
varied  plumage  streamed  along  the  shores  of  the  lakes,  and  the 
waters  swarmed  with  fish.  The  face  of  nature,  fresh  in  the  luxu 
riance  of  a  virgin  soil,  was  everywhere  clothed  with  magnificent 
vegetation.  Did  they  travel  through  the  Indian  trails  or  bridle 
paths  which  wound  through  the  forest,  extensive  tracts  of  oak- 
lands,  that  seemed  like  cultivated  parks,  met  their  eye,  studded 
with  little  crystal  lakes  and  streams,  and  covered  with  flowers. 
Herds  of  buffaloes  wandered  over  the  prairies,  trampling  down 
the  flowers  which  blushed  in  their  track  as  they  rushed  on  in 
clumsy  motion.  Great  numbers  of  moose  and  elk,  which  in  the 
size  of  their  horns  almost  rivaled  the  branches  of  the  trees, 
bounded  through  the  thickets.  Deer  were  here  and  there  seen 
feeding  upon  the  margin  of  the  water  courses.  Flocks  of  wild 
turkeys  and  other  game  filled  the  woods ;  the  prairies  were  alive 
with  grouse,  and  pigeons  swept  along  like  clouds  above  the  forests, 
in  numbers  which  sometimes  almost  obscured  the  sky. 

Beyond  this,  they  beheld  in  the  luxuriance  of  the  soil  the  source 
of  inexhaustible  wealth.  Rich  clusters  of  grapes  hung  from  the 
trees,  which  reminded  them  of  the,  champagne  districts  of  France, 
from  which  they  had  emigrated,  and  apples  and  plums  abounded 
in  thrifty  groves. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


COLONIAL  EMIGH AN TS  —  MERCHANTS  —  THE  PEASANTRY  —  FRENCH  SOL 
DIERS — LEGAL  ADMINISTRATION — POLICY  OF  THE  FRENCH  GOVERN 
MENT — MODE  OF  LAND  DISTRIBUTION. 

OWING  to  the  frequent  changes  in  the  government  of  the  west 
ern  outposts  of  Canada,  as  well  as  to  the  fact  that,  at  various 
periods  in  its  early  history,  it  was  entirely  withdrawn,  consequent 
either  upon  some  freak  of  colonial  policy  in  France,  or  resulting 
from  difficulties  with  the  savages,  it  is  quite  as  impracticable  to 
attempt  a  connected  history  of  these  settlements  as  it  is  impossible 
to  detail  all  the  trials  and  hardships  endured  or  overcome  by  the 
colonists.  The  history  of  the  French  settlements  in  Michigan, 
during  that  period  in  which  France  held  possession  of  the  terri 
tory,  is  a  record  of  constant  changes,  authenticated  only  by  the 
"  Jesuit  relations,"  and  this  being  rather  a  diary  of  church  mat 
ters  than  a  journal  of  political  events,  throws  but  a  faint  light 
upon  those  greater  circumstances  which  the  modern  world  calls 
history.  Yet,  after  all,  we  are  not  left  without  a  general  history 
of  the  first  settlements  of  Michigan. 

The  posts  were  inhabited  by  a  hardy  race  of  people,  who  had 
emigrated  principally  from  Brittany  and  Normandy,  provinces  of 
France.  They  were  mostly  working  men,  drawn  from  the  more 
dense  settlements  round  Montreal  and  Quebec,  and  were  sent  out 
by  the  government  for  the  purpose  of  building  up  the  posts,  and 
of  protecting  the  fur  trade  carried v  on  through  the  chain  of  the 
great  lakes.  The  population  of  the  posts  consisted  of  the  military 
by  which  they  were  garrisoned,  Jesuits,  priests,  merchants,  traders 
and  peasants.  These,  however,  were  moved  from  place  to  place, 
as  the  interests  of  the  government  seemed  to  require. 

The  French  commandants  were  the  most  prominent  individuals 
of  the  posts,  and,  with  their  garrisons,  constituted  a  little  mon- 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN. 


123 


archy.  Their  power  was  arbitrary,  extending  to  the  right  of  doing 
whatever  they  might  deem  expedient  for  the  welfare  of  the  settle 
ment,  whether  in  making  laws  or  punishing  crime.  The  oldest 
merchants  were  reverenced  as  the  head  men  of  their  colony. 


HON.  JAMES  WATSON. 

JAMES  WATSON,  of  Bay  City,  was  born  in  Detroit,  September  2,  1814. 
He  removed  to  his  present  place  of  residence,  then  called  Lower  Saginaw, 
in  1850.  He  carried  on  a  mercantile  business  successfully  for  several 
years;  then  he  turned  his  attention,  with  even  greater  profit,  to  lumber 
ing,  and  continued  in  that  business  until  1870.  He  has  been,  and  now 
is,  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Bay  City.  He  has  contributed  largely  to  its 
rapid  growth  by  investing  liberally  in  local  improvements.  He  erected 
and  now  owns  a  model  brick  block,  known  as  the  "Watson  Block," 


124  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

They  were  careful  and  frugal  in  their  habits,  and  exercised  an 
influence  among  the  settlers  calculated  to  secure  a  willing  obedience. 

Mr.  Lanman,  in  his  history  of  Michigan,  states  that  the  early 
French  settlers  were  wanting  in  virtue,  and  "  often  fostered  a  large 
number  of  half-breed  children  around  their  posts,  who  were  the 
offspring  of  their  licentiousness."  To  a  careful  reader  of  our  early 
history  this  statement,  or  charge,  seems  to  be  entirely  unsupported 
by  truth.  It  would  have  appeared  more  reasonable,  and  less  at 
variance  with  the  facts,  had  Mr.  Lanman  attributed  the  existence 
of  this  race  of  half-breeds  to  the  want  of  rigid  virtue  among  the 
soldiers  and  the  rangers  of  the  woods. 

This  peculiar  class,  no  doubt  engendered  by  the  manner  in 
which  the  fur  trade  was  conducted,  were  properly  called  bush 
rangers,  or  coureurs  des  bois,  half-civilized  vagrants,  whose  chief 
vocation  was  conducting  the  canoe  of  the  traders  along  the  lakes 
and  rivers  of  the  interior.  Many  of  them,  however,  shaking 
loose  every  tie  of  blood  and  kindred,  identified  themselves  with 
the  Indians,  and  sank  into  utter  barbarism.  "  In  many  a  squalid 
camp,"  says  Parkman,  "  among  the  plains  and  forests  of  the 
West,  the  traveler  would  have  encountered  men  owning  the  blood 
and  speaking  the  language  of  France,  yet,  in  their  swarthy  vis 
ages  and  barbarous  costume,  seeming  more  akin  to  those  with 
whom  they  had  cast  their  lot.  The  renegade  of  civilization 
caught  the  habits  and  imbibed  the  prejudices  of  his  chosen  asso 
ciates.  He  loved  to  decorate  his  long  hair  with  eagle  feathers,  to 
make  his  face  hideous  with  vermilion,  ochre  and  soot,  and  to  adorn 
his  greasy  hunting  frock  with  horse-hair  fringe." 

His  dwelling,  if  he  had  one,  was  a  wigwam.  He  lounged  on  a 
bear  skin  while  his  squaw  boiled  his  venison  and  lighted  his  pipe. 
In  hunting,  in  dancing,  in  singing,  in  taking  a  scalp,  he  rivaled 
the  genuine  Indian.  His  mind  was  tinctured  with  the  supersti 
tions  of  the  forest.  He  had  faith  in  the  magic  drum  of  the  con- 

which  is  an  ornament  to  the  city.  He  has  reared  a  large  family,  and  is  a 
gentleman  of  fine  presence,  kind  and  affable,  and  wields  a  large  influence 
socially  and  politically.  He  has  been  twice  elected  county  treasurer, 
twice  mayor  of  Bay  City,  has  held  the  office  of  president  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  and  served  as  president  of  the  Bay  City  Temperance  Society. 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN.  125 

juror.  He  was  not  sure  that  a  thunder  cloud  could  not  be 
frightened  away  by  whistling  at  it  through  the  wing-bone  of  an 
eagle ;  he  carried  the  tail  of  a  rattlesnake  in  his  bullet-pouch,  by 
way  of  amulet,  and  he  placed  implicit  trust  in  his  dreams. 


HON.   PETER  DESNOYERS. 

PETER  DESNOYERS,  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  Michigan  during 
its  early  history,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  April  21st,  1800.  His 
father,  Peter  J.  Dcsnoyers,  was  born  in  the  city  of  Paris,  France,  in  1772, 
came  to  America  in  1790,  and  married  Miss  Marie  Gobiel,  of  Detroit, 
Mich.  He  lived  in  Galliopolis  a  number  of  years,  and  afterwards  in  Pitts- 
burg,  from  which  place  he  removed  to  Detroit  with  the  army  of  "Mad 
Anthony"  Wayne,  in  August,  1796,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1846.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  merchants  and  citi- 


126  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

The  peasants,  or  that  class  of  lake  settlers  who  subsisted  by 
agricultural  pursuits,  within  the  narrow  circle  of  their  picket 
fences,  were  not  numerous.  Their  dress  was  peculiar,  and  even 
wild.  They  wore  surtouts  of  coarse  blue  cloth,  fastened  at  the 
middle  with  a  red  sash,  a  scarlet  woolen  cap,  containing  a  scalping 
knife,  and  moccasins  made  of  deer-skin.  Civilization  was  here 
strangely  mingled.  Groups  of  Indians  from  the  remotest  shores 
of  the  lakes,  wild  in  their  garb,  would  occasionally  make  their 
appearance  at  the  settlements  with  numerous  canoes  laden  with 
beaver  skins,  which  they  had  brought  down  to  these  places  of 
deposit.  Among  them  were  intermixed  the  French  soldiers  of  the 
garrison,  with  their  blue  coats  turned  up  with  white  facings,  and 
the  Jesuits,  with  their  long  gowns  and  black  bands,  from  which 
were  suspended  by  silver  chains  the  rosary  and  crucifix,  who, 
"  with  the  priests,  had  their  stations  round  the  forts  and  ministered 
in  the  chapels." 

Agriculture  was  not  extensively  encouraged  by  the  policy  of  the 
fur  trade  or  the  character  of  the  population.  It  was  confined  to 
a  few  patches  of  Indian  corn  and  wheat,  which  they  rudely  culti 
vated.  They  ground  their  grain  in  wind-mills,  which  were  scat 
tered  along  the  banks  of  the  Detroit  river  and  the  St.  Clair  lake. 
The  recreations  of  the  French  colonists  consisted  in  attending  the 
religious  services  held  in  the  rude  chapels  on  the  borders  of  the 


zens  of  Detroit  during  his  day,  and  his  death  was  mourned  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

Mr.  Desnoyers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  in  Detroit  attending 
school  when  the  great  fire  of  1805  broke  out,  which  entirely  destroyed 
the  town,  leaving  the  inhabitants  houseless,  and  in  a  very  destitute  con 
dition.  He  commenced  business  as  a  merchant  in  1821,  having  just 
attained  his  majority,  and  was  eminently  successful  in  this  occupation. 

He  was  the  first  county  treasurer  of  Wayne  county  elected  by  the 
popular  vote,  which  occurred  in  1826.  At  the  next  election  he  was 
reelected  to  the  same  office.  In  1827  he  was  chosen  one  of  the  aldermen 
of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  he  also  served  some  time  in  this  position  after 
the  division  of  the  city  into  wards,  representing  the  fourth  ward  in  the 
council. 

In  1831  Mr.  Desnoyers  was  appointed  United  States  Marshal  by  Presi 
dent  Jackson,  which  position  he  held  until  the  organization  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  127 

wilderness,  in  adorning  their  altars  with  wild  flowers,  in  dancing 
to  the  sound  of  the  violin  at  each  other's  houses,  in  hunting  the 
deer,  and  in  paddling  their  light  canoes  across  the  clear  and  silent 
streams.  The  women  employed  themselves  in  making  coarse  cot 
ton  and  woollen  cloths  for  the  Indian  trade.  In  their  cottages 
were  hung  rude  pictures  of  saints,  the  Madonna  and  child,  and 
the  leaden  crucifix  supplied  the  place  of  one  of  silver.  Abundance 
of  game  roamed  in  the  woods,  and  the  waters  were  alive  with  fish. 

The  Jesuits,  who  were  the  most  active  agents  of  the  government 
in  the  exploration  of  these  regions,  were,  as  a  class,  men  of  high 
intelligence.  The  narratives  of  their  wanderings  through  the 
wilderness  throw  a  coloring  of  romance  around  the  prairies,  and 
forests  and  lakes,  which  amounts  almost  to  a  classic  spirit.  Yet 
they  have  left  upon  the  lake  shores  but  few  monuments  either  of 
their  enterprise  or  Christian  zeal.  Their  success  in  Christianizing 
the  Indians  was  limited  when  compared  with  the  extent  of  their 
labors.  By  the  savages  these  Catholic  missionaries  were  regarded 
as  medicine  men  and  jugglers,  on  whom  the  destiny  of  life  and 
death  depended;  and  although  they  were  greatly  feared,  they 
succeeded  in  making  but  few  converts  to  their  religious  faith, 
excepting  young  children,  or  Indians  just  about  to  die. 

The  administration  of  the  law  in  the  western  outposts  was 
founded,  as  far  as  possible,  on  the  contume  de  Paris,  which  was 

Territory  into  a  State  in  1837.  He  was  appointed  city  treasurer  of 
Detroit  in  1838,  and  promoted  to  State  treasurer  in  1839  by  Governor 
Stevens  T.  Mason.  He  served  in  the  latter  position  until  the  commence 
ment  of  Governor  Woodbridge's  term,  bringing  great  credit  to  himself 
as  a  shrewd  financier,  and  guarding  the  State  moneys  in  an  honorable 
and  trustworthy  manner.  In  1843  he  was  again  elected  county  treasurer 
of  Wayne  county,  and  again  in  1851. 

Mr.  Desnoyers  removed  from  Detroit  to  Hamtramck  in  1849,  and  still 
resides  in  the  latter  place. 

In  1850  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention, 
which  met  in  Lansing  during  that  year  and  framed  our  present  State 
Constitution.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention  of  1867,  which  closed  his  public  career.  At  present  he  is  living 
at  Hamtramck  in  a  very  retired  and  quiet  manner,  enjoying  the  comforts 
of  an  active  and  prosperous  life. 


128  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

the  law  of  all  Canada.  This  code,  although  received  and  prac 
ticed  upon  in  the  older  and  more  populous  settlements  of  the 
lower  province,  was  not  adopted  with  any  degree  of  uniformity 
among  these  distant  colonists.  The  commandants  or  governors  of 
the  posts  had  the  principal  cognizance  of  the  population  around 
them,  and  exercised  their  authority  in  an  arbitrary  manner. 
There  was  at  this  time  no  system  of  education  like  that  which 
prevailed  in  New  England,  and  all  the  knowledge  acquired  by 
the  children  of  the  colonists  was  obtained  from  the  priests. 

The  plan  of  distributing  the  land  was  calculated  to  prevent  the 
settlement  of  the  country.  A  law  was  passed  requiring  the  houses 
of  the  inhabitants  to  be  placed  upon  ground  with  a  front  of  only 
one  acre  and  a  half,  and  running  forty  acres  back.  This  kept  the 
settlements  in  a  close  line  along  the  banks  of  the  streams.  A 
feudal  and  aristocratic  spirit  also  controlled  the  grants  of  land. 
The  commandants  of  the  forts  had  the  power  to  convey  lands, 
with  the  permission  of  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  subject 
to  the  confirmation  of  the  King  of  France,  special  rights  being 
reserved  to  the  grantor. 

As  early  as  1749,  the  post  of  Detroit  and  the  others  upon  the 
northwestern  lakes,  Michilimackiuac,  Ste.  Marie,  and  St.  Joseph, 
received  an  accession  of  immigrants.  The  last  two  were  called 
after  the  saints  of  those  names  in  the  Catholic  calendar.  Michili- 
mackinac  derives  its  name  from  the  Indian  words  Michi-mackinac, 
meaning  a  great  turtle,  from  its  supposed  resemblance  to  that 
animal,  or  from  the  Chippewa  words  Michine-maukinonk,  signify 
ing  the  place  of  giant  fairies,  who  were  supposed  by  Indian 
superstition  to  hover  over  the  waters  around  that  beautiful  island. 
The  origin  of  the  word  Detroit  is  the  French  word  Detroit,  signify 
ing  a  strait,  because  the  post  was  situated  on  the  strait  connecting 
Lake  Erie  with  Lake  St.  Clair. 

During  the  whole  period  of  the  French  domination,  extending 
from  the  first  settlement  of  the  country  down  to  the  year  1760, 
the  traffic  of  Michigan  was  confined  principally  to  the  trade  in 
furs.  This  interesting  traffic  upon  the  great  lakes  was  carried  on 
by  the  French  under  peculiar  circumstances.  As  the  forests  of 
the  lake  region  abounded  with  furs  which  were  of  great  value  in 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN. 


129 


the  mother  country,  it  became  an  important  object  with  the  Cana 
dian  government  to  prosecute  that  trade  with  all  the  energy  in  its 
power.  The  rich  furs  of  the  beaver  and  otter  were  particularly 
valuable,  from  the  [great  demand  for  them  in  Europe.  Large 


CAPT.  JOHN   CLARKE. 

JOHN  CLARKE,  of  St.  Glair,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Michigan,  was  born 
at  Bath,  Maine,  July  29,  1797.  In  1812  he  went  to  Augusta,  Maine,  and 
accepted  a  situation  in  the  mercantile  establishment  of  T.  Sargent,  Esq., 
,but  he,  through  ill  health,  was  soon  compelled  to  give  up  this  position 
and  return  to  his  home.  Peace  being  declared  between  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States,  his  physicians  advised  him  to  make  a  trip  to 
Europe,  and  in  April,  1815,  he  sailed  for  Bremen.  After  traveling 
through  Germany,  England  and  Scotland,  and  witnessing  the  great 
9 


130  GENERAL   HISTOKY   OF   THE   STATES. 

canoes  made  of  bark,  and  strongly  constructed,  were  despatched 
annually  to  the  lakes  laden  with  packs  of  European  merchandise, 
consisting  of  blankets,  printed  calicoes,  ribbons,  cutlery,  and 
trinkets  of  various  kinds,  which  the  Indians  used ;  and  Detroit, 
Michilimackiuac  and  Ste.  Marie,  were  their  principal  places  of 
deposit. 

To  secure  the  interests  of  the  large  companies,  licenses  for  this 
trade  were  granted  by  the  Governor-General  of  Canada  to  the  mer 
chants,  who  sometimes  sold  them  to  the  coureurs  des  bois.  The 
possessor  of  one  of  these  licenses  was  entitled  to  load  two  large 
canoes,  each  of  which  was  manned  by  six  men.  The  cargo  of 
one  of  these  canoes  was  valued  at  about  a  thousand  crowns.  This 
merchandise  was  sold  to  the  traders  on  credit,  and  at  about  fifteen 
per  cent  advance  on  the  price  it  would  command  in  ready  money. 
But  the  voyages  were  very  profitable,  and  there  was  generally  a 
gain  of  about  one  hundred  per  cent  on  the  sum  invested  in  the 

rejoicings  in  those  countries  over  the  defeat  and  capture  of  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  at  Waterloo,  he  embarked  from  Liverpool  with  his  uncle,  Capt. 
F.  Clarke,  in  the  ship  Ellington,  for  Boston.  When  about  in  mid-ocean, 
and  during  a  severe  gale,  the  vessel  foundered,  and  the  passengers  and 
crew  were  obliged  to  take  to  the  small  boats.  After  remaining  in  these 
for  three  days,  they  were  picked  up  by  a  dismasted  brig  from  Scotland. 
At4he  expiration  of  three  more  days,  the  "James  Madison,"  from  Phila 
delphia,  came  to  their  relief,  and  putting  them  on  a  short  allowance  of 
food,  in  order  to  make  it  last,  brought  them  in  safety  to  Philadelphia, 
after  a  lapse  of  thirty -two  days.  Upon  arriving  in  the  latter  city,  Mr. 
Clarke  was  unable  to  find  his  uncle  (who,  to  gain  time,  had  taken  a 
steamer  as  soon  as  they  entered  the  river),  and  having  no  money,  wan 
dered  around  for  three  days  without  food.  His  condition  becoming 
known,  he  was  assisted  by  the  kind  hearted  citizens,  and  his  uncle,  who 
had  preceded  him  by  steamer,  finding  him,  gave  him  money  with  which 
to  reach  his  home. 

Arriving  there,  he  received  a  clerkship  in  a  store,  and  after  serving  in 
this  position  for  a  short  time,  he  accepted  of  a  similar  one  in  the  whole 
sale  house  of  Page  &  Gitchell,  in  Hallowell,  in  1817,  receiving  the 
highest  salary  paid  for  similar  labors,  which  was  only  seventy-five  dollars 
per  year. 

Mr.  Clarke  here  united  with  the  Baptfst  Church,  of  which  he  is  still  a 
member,  and  at  once  took  a  deep  interest  in  Sabbath  schools.  He  still 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGA'N.  131 

enterprise.  The  traders  endured  most  of  the  fatigue,  and  the  mer 
chants  received  most  of  the  profit.  On  the  return  of  one  of  these 
expeditions,  six  hundred  crowns  were  taken  by  the  merchant  for 
his  license,  and  as  he  had  sold  the  thousand  crowds'  worth  of 
goods  at  their  prime  cost,  from  this  sum  he  also  deducted  forty 
per  cent  for  bottomry;  the  remainder  was  then  divided  among 
the  six  coureurs  des  bois,  who  were  thus  left  with  but  a  small 
compensation  for  all  their  perils  and  hardships. 

The  coureurs  des  bois  were  the  native  agents  of  the  fur  trade. 
Thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  navigation  of  the  lakes,  they 
fearlessly  swept  along  the  waters  of  these  inland  seas,  encamping 
at  night  upon  their  shores.  Of  mixed  white  and  Indian,  blood,  they 
formed  the  connecting  link  between  civilization  and  barbarism. 
Their  dress  was  also  demi-savage.  Lively  and  sanguine,  they 
were  at  all  times  ready  to  join  the  Indians  in  the  dance,  or  pay 
respect  to  their  ceremonies.  Their  French  fathers  had  familiarly 

retains  his  activity  in  this  class  of  labors,  although  he  has  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  seventy-six  years. 

In  1818  he  removed  to  Belfast,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business, 
with  more  than  average  prosperity.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Sherbun,  of 
Hallowell,  in  December,  1819. 

Upon  attaining  his  majority  he  espoused  the  principles  of  the  Jefferson 
republican  party,  and  gave  his  support  to  the  administrations  of  Madison 
and  Monroe,  and  worked  faithfully  for  the  election  of  General  Jackson 
during  the  following  presidential  campaign,  which  resulted  in  the  elec 
tion  of  John  Quincy  Adams  by  the  House  of  Representatives.  Although 
he  resolutely  refused  to  accept  any  political  position,  he  undertook  many 
difficult  tasks  for  his  party,  and  performed  his  work  in  a  manner  to  elicit 
the  highest  praise  from  the  then  Governor  of  Maine,  and  other  prominent 
officials. 

His  health  again  failing  him,  he  closed  his  business  in  Belfast,  with  the 
intention  of  coming  to  Michigan,  but  his  friends  prevailed  upon  him  to 
return  to  Hallowell,  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  all  political  issues. 

In  1829  Mr.  Clarke  was  called  to  Washington  on  business,  and  while 
there  was  received  by  President  Jackson  in  the  kindest  manner,  and  an 
intimate  friendship  soon  sprung  up  between  them. 

He  came  to  Michigan  in  1830,  arriving  at  Detroit  in  October  of  that 
year,  and  in  the  following  December  opened  a  mercantile  establishment 
on  Woodward  avenue,  two  doors  from  Jefferson  avenue,  in  a  building 


132  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

associated  with  the  native  tribes,  and  their  mothers  and  wives 
were  the  inmates  of  Indian  camps.  In  many  respects  their  char 
acter  resembled  that  of  mariners  upon  the  ocean,  for  the  same 
general  cause  might  be  said  to  operate  upon  both.  Instead  of 
navigating  the  high  seas  in  ships  tossed  by  storms,  and  ploughing 
the  waves  from  port  to  port,  it  was  their  lot  to  propel  their  light 
canoes  over  the  fresh  water  seas  of  the  forest,  where,  hurried  from 
one  Indian  village  to  another,  like  the  mariner  on  the  ocean,  they 
acquired  all  those  habits  which  belong  to  an  unsettled  and  wan 
dering  life. 

Advancing  to  the  remote  shores  of  Lake  Superior  or  Lake 
Michigan,  and  following  the  courses  of  the  rivers  which  flow  into 
them,  as  soon  as  they  reached  the  points  where  the  Indians  were 
in  the  habit  of  resorting,  they  at  once  encamped.  Here  they 
opened  their  packages  of  goods,  exhibited  them  to  their  savage 
customers  and  exchanged  them  for  furs ;  and  having  disposed  of 


owned  by  Robert  Smart,  Esq.  In  the  fall  of  1832  lie  purchased  a  large 
tract  of  land  on  the  St.  Clair  river,  where  he  now  resides,  and  in  the  fol 
lowing  spring  removed  to  where  the  city  of  Port  Huron  now  stands,  and 
at  which  place  there  were  then  only  three  frame  buildings.  He  took 
charge  of  the  steamer  Gen.  Gratiot  about  this  time,  and  sailed  her  on  the 
route  from  Port  Huron  to  Toledo.  In  1835  he  removed  to  his  present 
residence,  in  the  town  of  China,  a  few  miles  below  the  city  of  St.  Clair, 
on  the  river  of  that  name. 

He  was  one  of  the  delegates  chosen  from  St.  Clair  county  to  the  State 
convention  for  the  framing  of  a  State  Constitution,  which  met  in  Detroit 
on  the  llth  of  May,  1835.  As  a  member  of  this  important  body  he  per 
formed  much  good  work,  and  his  actions  won  him  many  influential 
friends. 

Pending  the  admission  of  Michigan  into  the  Union,  at  the  request  of  a 
number  of  the  influential  men  of  the  Territory  he  visited  Washington, 
and  upon  arriving  there  found  the  objectionable  bill  had  passed  the  very 
day  he  had  started.  He  presented  the  facts  in  the  case  to  President 
Jackson,  and  that  official  expressed  his  regrets  that  Mr.  Clarke  had  not 
arrived  sooner,  as  he  would  not  have  signed  the  bill  had  the  matter  been 
fully  explained  to  him  before.  During  his  stay  at  the  capitol,  the  Gov 
ernor  of  his  Territory  and  other  prominent  men  arrived  in  Washington. 
These  gentlemen  called  upon  the  President,  in  the  presence  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  State,  and  after  some  discussion  upon  the  admission  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN.  133 

all  their  merchandise,  and  loaded  their  canoes  with  the  peltries  it 
had  procured,  they  bade  adieu  to  their  Indian  friends,  and  started 
on  their  voyage  back,  with  feathers  stuck  in  their  hats,  keeping 
time  with  their  paddles  to  the  Canadian  boat  songs. 

La  Hontan,  in  his  Journal,  which  was  published  in  France,  and 
a  translation  of  which  was  afterwards  published  in  this  country, 
gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  fur  trade,  showing  the  general 
course  of  that  traffic  while  the  Canadas  were  under  the  French. 
The  author  resided  at  Montreal.  At  this  time  (1688)  Michili- 
mackinac  wras  the  principal  stopping  place  for  the  traders  on  their 
way  from  Montreal  and  Detroit  to  the  forests  bordering  on  Lake 
Superior.  Here  their  goods  were  deposited,  and  here  the  furs 
were  collected  for  their  return  freight.  Sometimes,  however,  the 
traders,  accompanied  by  numerous  canoes  of  the  Ottawas,  would 
proceed  directly  to  the  older  settlements  on  the  St.  Lawrence, 

Territory,  President  Jackson  made  this  statement  to  them  :  "  You  have 
no  influence  with  the  Cabinet.  We  look  to  Mr.  Clarke  for  all  the  infor 
mation  we  desire.  We  know  him,  and  have  the  fullest  confidence  in 
him."  The  Secretary  of  State,  meeting  Mr.  Clarke  afterwards,  informed 
him  that  he  had  but  to  mention  what  he  desired  in  the  gift  of  the  Presi 
dent,  and  he  should  receive  it.  Mr.  Clarke,  however,  declined  accepting 
any  office. 

At  the  first  election  under  the  State  Constitution,  he  having  received 
the  nomination  of  both  parties,  was  elected  State  Senator  for  the  Fifth 
Senatorial  District  without  an  opposing  vote,  and  to  which  position  he 
was  reflected  at  the  following  election.  Every  effort  was  made  by  his 
friends  at  this  time  for  permission  to  place  his  name  before  the  Legisla 
ture  as  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate,  but  he  would  not 
consent. 

In  1837,  President  Jackson  appointed  him  one  of  two  commission 
ers  to  acquire  the  title  of  the  Indians  to  the  lands  they  claimed  in 
Michigan,  which  duty  he  performed  in  a  very  satisfactory  manner. 

Afterwards  he  received  the  appointment  of  Receiver  of  the  Land  Office 
at  Ionia,  from  President  Van  Buren,  with  whom  he  had  been  acquainted 
from  1829.  Mr.  Clarke  declined  to  accept  this  position. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Convention  of  1850,  for  the  revision  of 
the  State  Constitution,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  deliberations  of 
that  body. 

With  the  nomination  of  James  Buchanan  for  the  presidency  by  the 


134  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

where  they  supposed  they  might  be  able  to  dispose  of  their  car 
goes  to  greater  advantage  than  at  the  interior  posts. 

The  following  is  La  Hontan's  account  of  the  fur  trade  at  the 
period  referred  to: 

"  Much  about  the  same  day,"  says  he,  "  there  arrived  twenty- 
five  or  thirty  canoes,  being  homeward  bound  from  the  great  lakes, 
and  laden  with  beaver  skins.  The  cargo  of  each  canoe  amounted 
to  forty  packs,  each  of  which  weighs  fifty  pounds,  and  will  fetch 
fifty  crowns  at  the  farmer's  office.  These  canoes  were  followed  by 
fifty  more  of  the  Ottawas  and  Hurons,  who  come  down  every  year 
to  the  colony  in  order  to  make  a  better  market  than  they  can  do 
in  their  own  country  of  Michilimackinac,  which  lies  on  the  banks 
of  the  Lake  of  Hurons,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lake  of  Illinese 
(Michigan).  Their  way  of  trading  is  as  follows : 

"  Upon  their  arrival  they  encamp  at  a  distance  of  five  or  six 
hundred  paces  from  the  town.  The  first  day  is  spent  in  ranging 

Democrats,  Mr.  Clarke  left  that  party,  and  gave  his  support  to  General 
Fremont,  whom  he  claimed  represented  the  true  principles  of  Jefferson 
and  his  associates. 

In  1857  Mr.  Clarke  was  again  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  dur 
ing  its  session  exerted  great  influence  in  securing  the  passage  of  good 
laws,  and  the  defeat  of  those  he  considered  would  be  injurious  to  the 
State.  At  this  session  he  used  his  entire  influence,  and  no  doubt  aj^ed 
materially  in  the  election  of'  the  Hon.  Zachariah  Chandler  to  the  United 
States  Senate. 

Mr.  Clarke  is  a  very  prominent  and  influential  Free  Mason,  having 
united  with  this  order  at  Belfast,  Maine,  as  early  as  1820.  Upon  being 
admitted  he  strove  to  advance  and  learn  its  great  principles,  and  traveled 
a  distance  of  over  fifty  miles  to  receive  the  Chapter  degrees.  Upon  its 
revival  after  the  Morgan  affair,  he  took  an  active  part  in  perpetuating  its 
existence  and  principles.  He  was  elected  E.  C.  of  the  John  Clarke  Com- 
mandery,  of  St.  Clair,  and  was  afterwards  elected  to  the  same  position  in 
the  Port  Huron  Commandery.  From  their  establishment  until  the  pres 
ent  time,  over  sixteen  years,  he  has  not  been  absent  from  a  meeting  of 
either  of  these  bodies.  Mr.  Clarke  has  conferred  more  knightly  orders 
than  any  other  E.  C.  in  the  State.  He  was  elected  R  E.  G.  C.  of  Michi 
gan,  and  appointed  V.  E.  G.  C.  G.  by  the  Hon.  B.  B.  French,  M.  E.  G.  M. 
of  the  G.  G.  E.  of  the  United  States.  He  is  known  throughout  the 
Union  as  a  prominent  Free  Mason,  and  has  received  a  number  of  valu 
able  presents  from  the  fraternity. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


135 


their  canoes,  unloading  their  goods,  and  pitching  their  tents,  which 
are  made  of  birch  bark.  The  next  day  they  demand  audience  of 
the  Governor-General,  which  is  granted  them  that  same  day,  in  a 
public  place. 


HON.  JOHN  R.  KELLOG. 

JOHN  R.  KELLOG,  a  prominent  man  in  Michigan  during  the  time  of 
Lewis  Cass,  was  born  at  New  Hartford,  Oneida  county,  New  York,  in 
1793.  His  father  was  one  of  the  hardy  pioneers  of  the  New  England 
States,  the  farm  upon  which  he  resided  in  New  Hartford,  being  pur 
chased  from  George  Washington  and  George  Clinton.  The  original  con 
tract  of  this  purchase  is  still  in  existence  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
A.  J.  Kellog,  the  youngest  son  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  resides 
in  Allegan,  Michigan. 

When  he  was  six  years  of  age,  the  parents  of  Mr.  John  R.  Kellog 


136  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

"  Upon  this  occasion  each  nation  makes  a  ring  for  itself.  The 
savages  sit  upon  the  ground,  with  pipes  in  their  mouths,  and  the 
governor  is  seated  in  an  arm-chair ;  after  which  there  starts  up  an 
orator  or  speaker  from  one  of  these  nations,  who  makes  a 
harangue,  importing  that  his  brethren  are  come  to  visit  the  Gov 
ernor-General,  to  renew  with  him  their  wonted  friendship ;  that 
their  chief  view  is  to  promote  the  interest  of  the  French,  some  of 
whom,  being  unacquainted  wTith  the  way  of  traffic,  and  being  too 
weak  for  the  transporting  of  goods  from  the  lakes,  would  be  una 
ble  to  deal  in  beaver-skins  if  his  brethren  did  not  come  in  person 
to  deal  with  them  in  their  own  colonies.  That  they  knew  very 
well  how  acceptable  their  arrival  is  to  the  inhabitants  of  Mon 
treal,  in  regard  to  the  advantage  they  reap  from  it ;  that,  in 
regard  to  the  beaver-skins,  they  were  much  valued  in  France,  and 
the  French  goods  given  in  exchange  were  of  an  inconsiderable 
value ;  and  that  they  mean  to  give  the  French  sufficient  proof  of 
their  readiness  to  furnish  them  with  what  they  desire  so  earnestly. 

"  That,  by  way  of  preparation  of  another  year's  cargo,  they  are 
come  to  take  in  exchange  fusees,  and  powder  and  ball,  in  order  to 
hunt  great  numbers  of  beavers,  or  to  gall  the  Iroquois  in  case 
they  offered  to  disturb  the  French  settlements;  and,  in  fine,  in 

removed  from  New  Hartford  to  Skaneateles,  New  York,  taking  him 
along  with  them.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  went  to  Lowville,  New  York, 
as  a  clerk  for  Messrs.  Leonard,  in  which  occupation  he  remained  until 
he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  From  here  he  went  to  New  York  city 
as  a  clerk  for  John  Glover,  Esq.  While  in  this  city  he  united  with  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  Dr.  John  M.  Mason,  pastor,  and  lived  an  earnest 
and  faithful  Christian  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

In  1817  he  married  Miss  Mary  Otter  son,  of  New  York,  a  young  lady 
highly  respected  for  her  many  good  qualities,  who  still  survives  him. 

From  this  city  with  his  wife  and  two  children  he  returned  to  New 
Hartford  in  1817,  remaining  one  year,  when  he  again  removed  and  set 
tled  in  Marcellus,  Onondaga  county,  New  York.  Here  he  retained  his 
residence  until  1836,  being  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  In  this  year 
he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  served  in  the  Legislature  of  the  State  dur 
ing  the  winter  of  1837-38.  In  the  latter  year  he  settled  in  Allegan,  Alle- 
gan  county,  Michigan,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1868. 

Mr.  Kellog  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  for  six 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  137 

confirmation  of  their  words,  that  they  throw  a  porcelain  collar 
(belt  of  wampum),  with  some  beaver-skins,  to  the  kitchi-okima 
(so  they  call  the  Governor-General),  whose  protection  they  laid 
claim  to  in  case  of  any  robbery  or  abuse  committed  upon  them  in 
the  town.  The  spokesman  having  made  an  end  of  his  speech, 
returns  to  his  place  and  takes  up  his  pipe,  and  the  interpreter 
explains  the  substance  of  the  harangue  to  the  Governor,  who 
commonly  gives  a  very  civil  answer,  especially  if  the  presents  be 
valuable,  in  consideration  of  which  he  likewise  makes  them  a 
present  of  some  trifling  things.  This  done,  the  savages  rise  up 
and  return  to  their  huts,  to  make  suitable  preparation  for  the 
ensuing  truck. 

"  The  next  day  the  savages  make  their  slaves  carry  the  skins  to 
the  houses  of  the  merchants,  who  bargain  with  them  for  such 
clothes  as  they  want.  All  the  inhabitants  of  Montreal  are 
allowed  '  to  traffic  with  them  in  any  commodity  but  rum  and 
brandy,  these  two  being  excepted  upon  the  account  that,  when  the 
savages  have  got  what  they  want,  and  have  any  skins  left,  they 
drink  to  excess,  and  then  kill  their  slaves  ;  for,  when  they  are 
in*  drink,  they  quarrel  and  fight,  and,  if  they  were  not  held  by 
those  who  are  sober,  would  certainly  make  havoc  one  of  another. 

years,  and  while  in  this  position  he  did  much  for  the  advancement  of 
education,  and  to  him  in  a  great  measure  are  we  indebted  for  the  high 
position  which  Michigan  occupies  to-day  when  compared  with  her  sister 
States  in  an  educational  point  of  view. 

He  was  associate  judge  of  Allegan  county  two  years,  during  the  judi 
cial  term  of  Judge  Ransom,  and  performed  the  responsible  duties  of  that 
position  in  a  manner  that  elicited  the  highest  praise  from  that  distin 
guished  gentleman. 

He  was  one  of  the  main  movers  in  his  section  of  the  State  in  organiz 
ing  the  association  and  raising  the  necessary  funds  for  the  erection  of 
the  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  monument  which  now  beautifies  the  Campus 
Martins  in  the  City  of  Detroit. 

Mr.  Kellog's  public  history  is  well  known  throughout  the  State,  as  he 
occupied  an  enviable  position  during  his  life  in  all  matters  of  importance 
concerning  the  government  of  the  State  and  its  welfare  and  prosperity. 
He  was  an  intimate  friend  of  Secretary  Seward  and  General  Cass, 
and  maintained  a  friendly  correspondence  with  them  until  separated  by 
death. 


138  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

"  However,  you  must  observe  that  none  of  them  will  touch 
either  gold  or  silver.  As  soon  as  the  savages  have  made  an  end  of 
their  truck,  they  take  leave  of  the  Governor,  and .  return  home 
by  the  River  Ottawa.  To  conclude,  they  do  a  great  deal  of  good, 
both  to  the  poor  and  rich,  for  you  will  readily  apprehend  that 
everybody  turns  merchant  upon  such  occasions." 

To  the  question  what  was  the  condition  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory  when  it  was  claimed  and  occupied  by  France,  we  can 
furnish  a  ready  answer.  It  was  a  vast  ranging  ground  for  the 
numerous  Indian  tribes,  who  roamed  over  it  in  all  the  listless  indo 
lence  of  their  savage  independence ;  of  the  Jesuit  missionaries, 
who,  under  the  garb  of  their  religious  orders,  strove  to  gain  the 
influence  of  the  red  men  in  behalf  of  their  government  as  well  as 
their  church,  by  their  conversion  to  the  Catholic  faith ;  the  theatre 
of  the  most  important  military  operations  of  the  French  soldiers 
at  the  West ;  and  the  grand  mart  where  the  furs,  which  were 
deemed  the  most  valuable  products  of  this  region,  were  collected 
for  shipment  to  France,  under  a  commercial  system  which  was 
originally  projected  by  the  Cardinal  de  Richelieu. 

The  condition  of  a  country,  although  often  in  some  measute 
modified  by  the  nature  of  the  climate  and  the  soil,  is  more  gener 
ally  founded  upon  the  character  of  the  people  and  that  of  its  laws. 
This  is  clearly  exhibited  in  the  case  of  the  Northwest ;  for,  while 
that  domain  was  rich  in  all  the  natural  advantages  that  could  be 
furnished  by  the  soil,  it  wras  entirely  barren  of  all  those  moral  and 
intellectual  fruits  springing  from  bold  and  energetic  character, 
directed  by  a  free,  enlightened,  and  wholesome  system  of  juris 
prudence. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


WAR  BETWEEN  THE  FRENCH  AND  ENGLISH  COLONIES  —  BRADDOCK'S 
MARCH  —  His  DEFEAT  —  ACADIA,  NIAGARA  AND  CROWN  POINT — 
BATTLE  OF  LAKE  GEORGE — CONDITION  OF  CANADA. 

SCARCELY  had  the  French  established  themselves  in  Canada, 
when  a  chain  of  circumstances  occurred  that  resulted  in  their 
overthrow.  The  people  of  the  northern  English  colonies  had 
learned  to  regard  their  Canadian  neighbors  with  the  bitterest 
enmity.  With  them,  the  very  name  of  Canada  called  up  horrible 
recollections  and  ghastly  images ;  the  midnight  massacre  of  Sche- 
nectady,  and  the  desolation  of  many  a  New  England  hamlet ; 
blazing  dwellings  and  reeking  scalps,  and  children  snatched  from 
their  mothers'  arms,  to  be  immured  in  convents,  and  trained  up  in 
the  abominations  of  Popery.  To  the  sons  of  the  Puritans,  their 
enemy  was  doubly  odious.  They  hated  him  as  a  Frenchman,  and 
they  hated  him  as  a  Papist. 

•  Hitherto,  he  had  waged  his  murderous  warfare  from  a  distance, 
wasting  their  settlements  with  rapid  onsets,  fierce  and  transient  as 
a  summer  storm ;  but  now,  with  enterprising  audacity,  he  was 
intrenching  himself  on  their  very  borders.  The  English  hunter, 
in  the  lonely  wilderness  of  Vermont,  as  by  the  warm  glow  of  sun 
set  he  piled  the  spruce  boughs  for  his  woodland  bed,  started,  as  a 
deep,  low  sound  struck  faintly  on  his  ears — the  evening  gun  of  Fort 
Frederic,  booming  over  lake  and  forest.  The  erection  of  this  fort, 
better  known  among  the  English  as  Crown  Point,  was  a  piece  of 
daring  encroachment,  which  justly  kindled  resentment  in  the 
northern  colonies.  But  it  was  not  here  that  the  immediate  occa 
sion  of  a  final  -rupture  was  to  arise.  By  an  article  of  the  treaty 
of  Utrecht,  confirmed  by  that  of  Aix  la  Chapelle,  Acadia  had 
been  ceded  to  England  ;  but,  scarcely  was  the  latter  treaty  signed, 
when  debates  sprang  up  touching  the  limits  of  the  ceded  province. 


140  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Commissioners  were  named  on  either  side,  to  adjust  the  disputed 
boundary ;  but  the  claims  of  the  rival  powers  proved  utterly  irrec 
oncilable,  and  all  negotiation  was  fruitless.  Meantime,  the  French 
and  English  forces  in  Acadia  began  to  assume  a  belligerent  atti 
tude,  and  indulge  their  ill  blood  in  mutual  aggression  and 
reprisal.  But,  while  this  game  was  played  on  the  coasts  of  the 
Atlantic,  interests  of  far  greater  moment  were  at  stake  in  the 
West. 

The  people  of  the  middle  colonies,  placed  by  their  local  posi 
tion  beyond  reach  of  the  French,  had  heard  with  great  composure 
of  the  suiferings  of  their  New  England  brethren,  and  felt  little 
concern  at  a  danger  so  doubtful  and  remote.  There  were  those 
among  them,  however,  who,  with  greater  foresight  had  been  quick 
to  perceive  the  ambitious  project  of  the  rival  nation ;  and,  as  early 
as  1716,  Spotswood,  Governor  of  Virginia,  had  urged  the  expedi 
ency  of  securing  the  valley  of  the  Ohio  by  a  series  of  forts  and 
settlements.  His  proposal  was  coldly  received,  and  his  plan  fell 
to  the  ground.  The  time  at  length  was  come  when  the  danger 
was  approaching  too  near  to  be  slighted  longer.  In  1748,  an 
association,  called  the  Ohio  Company,  was  formed,  with  the  view 
of  making  settlements  in  the  region  beyond  the  Alleghanies  ;  and, 
two  years  later,  Gist,  the  company's  surveyor,  to  the  great  disgust 
of  the  Indians,  carried  chain  and  compass  down  the  Ohio  as  far  as 
the  falls  at  Louisville.  But,  so  dilatory  were  the  English,  that, 
before  any  effectual  steps  were  taken,  their  agile  enemies  appeared 
upon  the  scene.  In  the  spring  of  1753,  the  middle  provinces  were 
startled  at  the  tidings  that  French  troops  had  crossed  Lake  Erie, 
fortified  themselves  at  the  point  of  Presque  Isle,  and  pushed  for 
ward  to  the  northern  branches  of  the  Ohio.  Upon  this,  Governor 
Dinwiddie,  of  Virginia,  resolved  to  despatch  a  message  requiring 
their  removal  from  territory  which  he  had  claimed  as  belonging 
to  the  British  crown  ;  and,  looking  about  him  for  the  person  best 
qualified  to  act  as -messenger,  he  made  choice  of  George  Washing 
ton,  a  young  man  twenty-one  years  of  age,  Adjutant-General  of 
the  Virginia  militia. 

Washington  departed  on  his  mission,  crossed  the  mountains, 
descended  to  the  bleak  and  leafless  valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  thence 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


141 


continued  his  journey  up  the  banks  of  the  Alleghany,  until  the 
fourth  of  December.  On  that  day  he  reached  Venango,  an  Indian 
town  on  the  Alleghany,  at  the  mouth  of  French  Creek.  Here 
was  the  advanced  post  of  the  French,  and  here,  among  the  Indian 


HON.  CHARLES  W.  GRANT. 

CHARLES  WESLEY  GRANT,  of  East  Saginaw,  was  born  March  15, 1817, 
at  Suiithville,  Chenango  county,  New  York.  He  came  to  Michigan  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years,  and  settled  in  Saginaw  county  in  the  spring  of 
1849.  At  that  time  there  being  no  railroad  nor  plank  road,  and  scarcely 
any  other  leading  to  that  county,  he  came  in  a  skiff  down  Flint  river  from 
the  then  village  of  Flint  with  the  late  George  R.  Cummings,  Esq. ,  who 
had  just  received  a  commission  from  Governor  Ransom  as  prosecuting 
attorney  for  Saginaw  county. 


142  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

log  cabins  and  huts  of  bark,  he  sa.w  their  flag  flying  above  the 
house  of  an  English  trader,  whom  the  military  intruders  had 
unceremoniously  ejected.  They  gave  the  young  envoy  a  hospita 
ble  reception,  and  referred  him  to  the  commanding  officer,  whose 
headquarters  were  at  Le  Bceuf,  a  fort  which  they  had  just  built  on 
French  Creek,  some  distance  above  Venango.  Thither  Washing 
ton  repaired,  and  on  his  arrival  was  received  with  stately  courtesy 
by  the  officer,  Legarduer  de  St.  Pierre,  whom  he  describes  as  an 
elderly  gentleman  of  very  soldier-like  appearance.  To  the  mes 
sage  of  Dinwiddie  St.  Pierre  replied  that  he  would  forward  it  to 
the  Governor-General  of  Canada ;  but  that,  in  the  meantime,  his 
orders  were  to  hold  possession  of  the  country,  and  this  he  should 
do  to  the  best  of  his  ability.  With  this  answer,  Washington, 
through  all  the  rigors  of  the  midwinter  forest,  retraced  his  steps, 
with  one  attendant,  to  the  English  borders. 

While  the  rival  nations  were  beginning  to  quarrel  for  a  prize 
which  belonged  to  neither  of  them,  the  unhappy  Indians  saw,  with 
alarm  and  amazement,  their  lands  becoming  a  bone  of  contention 
between  rapacious  strangers.  The  first  appearance  of  the  French 
on  the  Ohio  excited  the  wildest  fears  in  the  tribes  of  that  quarter, 
among  whom  were  those  who,  disgusted  by  the  encroachments  of 
the  Pennsylvanians,  had  fled  to  those  remote  retreats  to  escape  the 
intrusion  of  the  white  men.  Scarcely  was  their  fancied  asylum 
gained,  when  they  saw  themselves  invaded  by  a  host  of  armed  men 
from  Canada.  Thus,  placed  between  two  fires,  they  knew  not 
which  way  to  turn.  There  was  no  union  in  their  counsels,  and 
they  seemed  like  a  mob  of  bewildered  children.  Their  native  jeal- 

In  1850,  as  a  partner  of  A.  M.  Hoyt,  the  proprietor  of  the  incipient  city 
of  East  Saginaw,  he  built  the  first  mill  erected  there,  and  for  himself,  the 
first  dwelling  house.  He  was  one  of  the  five  voters  who  organized  the 
township  of  Buena  Vista  in  1851.  At  that  election  he  was  elected  town 
ship  clerk,  commissioner  of  highways,  justice  of  the  peace,  school  inspec 
tor,  etc. 

In  1856  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Saginaw  county,  and  held  that  office 
for  the  four  following  years. 

During  President  Buchanan's  administration,  and  for  two  years  after 
wards,  he  served  as  deputy  United  States  marshal  under  Col.  Rice,  Col. 
Davis  and  John  S.  Bagg. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  143 

ousy  was  roused  to  its  utmost  pitch.  Many  of  them  thought  that 
the  two*  white  nations  had  conspired  to  destroy  them,  and  then 
divide  their  lands.  "  You  and  the  French,"  said  one  of  them,  a 
few  years  afterwards,  to  an  English  >  emissary,  "  are  like  the  two 
edges  of  a  pair  of  shears,  and  we  "are  the  cloth  which  is  cut  to 
pieces  between  them." 

The  French  labored  hard  to  conciliate  them,  plying  them  with 
gifts  and  flatteries,  and  proclaiming  themselves  their  champions 
against  the  English.  At  first,  these  arts  seemed  in  vain,  but  their 
effect  soon  began  to  declare  itself;  and  this  effect  was  greatly 
increased  by  a  singular  piece  of  infatuation  on  the  part  of  the  pro 
prietors  of  Pennsylvania. 

During  the  summer  of  1754,  delegates  of  the  several  provinces 
met  at  Albany,  to  concert  measures  of  defense  in  the  war  which 
now  seemed  inevitable.  It  was  at  this  meeting  that  the  memor 
able  plan  of  a  union  of  the  colonies  was  brought  forward  ;  a  plan, 
the  fate  of  which  was  curious  and  significant,  for  the  crown 
rejected  it  as  giving  too  much  power  to  the  people,  and  the  people 
as  giving  too  much  power  to  the  crown.  A  council  was  also  held 
with  the 'Iroquois,  and  though  they  were  found  but  lukewarm  in 
their  attachment  to  the  English,  a  treaty  of  friendship  and  alliance 
was  concluded  with  their  deputies.  It  would  have  been  well  if  the 
matter  had  ended  here,  but,  with  ill-timed  rapacity,  the  proprie 
tary  agents  of  Pennsylvania  took  advantage  of  this  great  assem 
blage  of  sachems  to  procure  from  them  the  grant  of  extensive 
tracts,  including  the  lands  inhabited  by  the  very  tribes  whom  the 
French  were  at  that  moment  striving  to  seduce.  When  they  heard 


Mr.  Grant  came  to  Saginaw  poor  in  purse,  but  rich  in  energy  and  cour 
age.  Having  satisfied  his  taste  for  public  office,  he  turned  his  attention  to 
lumbering,  which  he  has  diligently  and  successfully  pursued  ever  since. 
By  the  exercise  of  his  business  talent,  which  is  of  a  high  order,  he  has 
built  up  an  enviable  credit  and  amassed  an  ample  fortune.  He  is  an  exam 
ple  of  that  steady  advance  in  wealth  and  social  standing  that  is  invariably 
achieved  by  a  young  man  of  good  habits  and  persevering  industry,  who 
has  the  good  sense  to  husband  his  income  and  make  it  productive  by 
judicious  investment.  He  resides  on  the  "James  Riley  Reservation," 
where  he  has  erected  a  palatial  residence.  Here  he  enjoys  his  well  earned 
wealth,  and  dispenses  an  elegant  hospitality. 


144  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

that,  without  their  consent,  their  conquerors  and  tyrants,  the  Iro- 
quois,  had  sold  the  soil  from  beneath  their  feet,  their  indignation 
was  extreme ;  and,  convinced  that  there  was  no  limit  to  English 
encroachment,  many  of  them  from  that  hour  became  fast  allies  of 
the  French. 

The  courts  of  London  and  Versailles  still  maintained  a  diplo 
matic  intercourse,  both  protesting  their  earnest  wish  that  their 
conflicting  claims  might  be  adjusted  by  friendly  negotiation  ;  but, 
while  each  disclaimed  the  intention  of  hostility,  both  were  hasten 
ing  to  prepare  for  war.  Early  in  1755,  an  English  fleet  sailed 
from  Cork,  having  on  board  two  regiments  destined  for  Virginia, 
and  commanded  by  General  Braddock ;  and,  soon  after,  a  French 
fleet  put  to  sea  from  the  port  of  Brest,  freighted  with  munitions 
of  war  and  a  strong  body  of  troops,  under  Baron  Dieskau,  an 
officer  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  the  campaigns  of  Marshal 
Saxe.  The  English  fleet  gained  its  destination,  and  lauded  its 
troops  in  safety.  The  French  were  less  fortunate.  Two  of  their 
ships,  the  Lys  and  the  Alcide,  became  involved  in  the  fogs  of  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland ;  and,  when  the  weather  cleared,  they 
found-  themselves  under  the  guns  of  a  superior  British  force, 
belonging  to  the  squadron  of  Admiral  Boscowen,  sent  out 
for  the  express  purpose  of  intercepting  them.  "  Are  we  at 
peace  or  at  war  ?"  demanded  the  French  commander.  A  broad 
side  from  the  Englishman  soon  solved  his  doubts,  and,  after  a 
stout  resistance,  the  French  struck  their  colors.  News  of  the  cap 
ture  caused  great  excitement  in  England,  but  the  conduct  of  the 
aggressors  was  generally  approved  ;  and,  under  pretence  that  the 
French  had  begun  the  war  by  their  alleged  encroachments  in 
America,  orders  were  issued  for  a  general  attack  upon  their  marine. 
So  successful  were  the  British  cruisers,  that;  before  the  end  of  the 
year,  three  hundred  French  vessels  and  nearly  eight  thousand 
sailors  were  captured  and  brought  into  port.  The  French,  unable 
to  retort  in  kind,  raised  an  outcry  of  indignation,  and  Mirepoix, 
their  ambassador,  withdrew  from  the  Court  of  London. 

Thus  began  that  memorable  war,  which,  kindling  among  the 
forests  of  America,  scattered  its  fires  over  the  kingdoms  of  Europe 
and  the  sultry  empire  of  the  Great  Mogul ;  the  war  made  glorious 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


145 


by  the  heroic  death  of  Wolfe,  the  victories  of  Frederic,  and  the 
exploits  of  Olive ;  the  war  which  controlled  the  destinies  of 
America,  and  was  first  in  the  chain  of  events  which  led  on  to  her 
Revolution,  with  all  its  vast  and  undeveloped  consequences.  On 


PROF.   DUANE  DOTY. 

DUANE  DOTY,  the  present  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  for  the 
city  of  Detroit,  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  He,  with  his  parents, 
came  to  Michigan  during  his  early  childhood,  and  in  this  State  received 
a  thorough  education,  graduating  from  the  literary  department  of  the 
Michigan  University,  in  1856. 

With  the  exception  of  five  years  devoted  to  travel,  army  and  editorial 
life,  his  whole  time  since  his  graduation  has  been  occupied  by  educa 
tional  work.  In  1865  he  was  appointed  Superintendent  of  Public 
10 


146  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  old  battle-ground  of  Europe  the  contest  bore  the  same  familiar 
features  of  violence  and  horror  which  had  marked  the  strife  of 
former  generations — fields  ploughed  by  the  cannon  ball,  and  walls 
shattered  by  the  exploding  mine,  sacked  towns  and  blazing  sub 
urbs,  the  lamentation  of  women,  and  the  license  of  a  maddened 
soldiery.  But  in  America,  war  assumed  a  new  and  striking  aspect. 
A  wilderness  was  its  sublime  arena.  Army  met  army  under  the 
shadows  of  primeval  woods ;  their  cannon  resounded  over  wastes 
unknown  to  civilized  man.  And,  before  the  hostile  powers  could 
join  in  battle,  endless  forests  must  be  traversed,  and  morasses 
passed,  and  everywhere  the  axe  of  the  pioneer  must  hew  a  path  for 
the  bayonet  of  the  soldier. 

Before  the  declaration  of  war,  and  before  the  breaking  off  of 
negotiations  between  the  courts  of  France  and  England,  the  English 
ministry  formed  the  plan  of  assailing  the  French  in  America  on 
all  sides  at  once,  and  repelling  them,  by  one  bold  push,  from  all 
their  encroachments.  A  provincial  army  was  to  advance  upon 
Acadia,  a  second  was  to  attack  Crown  Point,  and  a  third  Niagara ; 
while  the  two  regiments  which  had  lately  arrived  in  Virginia, 
under  General  Braddock,  aided  by  a  strong  body  of  provincials, 
were  to  dislodge  the  French  from  their  newly-built  fort  of  Du 
Quesne.  To  Braddock  was  assigned  the  chief  command  of  all 
the  British  forces  in  America  ;  and  a  person  worse  fitted  for  the 
office  could  scarcely  have  been  found.  His  experience  had  been 
ample,  and  none  could  doubt  his  courage ;  but  he  was  profligate, 

Instruction  for  the  city  of  Detroit,  which  difficult  and  laborious  position 
he  has  acceptably  filled  for  eight  years.  During  his  term  of  office  many 
important  improvements  have  been  made  ;  the  school  work  and  school 
business  have  all  been  thoroughly  systematized,  and  the  city  supplied 
with  good  school  buildings. 

Mr.  Doty's  organizing  ^nd  administrative  ability  is  conceded  to  be  of  a 
very  high  order,  and  he  belongs  emphatically  to  the  class  of  workers  who 
richly  merit  the  honors  conferred  upon  them.  His  work  and  efforts  in 
the  cause  of  popular  education  have  secured  him  an  enviable  reputation, 
and,  besides  this,  he  is  well  known  for  his  knowledge  of  the  vast  and 
increasing  resources  of  his  country,  and  for  availing  himself  of  every 
opportunity  for  adding  to  his  abundant  fund  of  information  on  all  sub 
jects. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  147 

arrogant,  perverse,  and  a  bigot  to  military  rules.  On  his  first 
arrival  in  Virginia,  he  called  together  the  Governors  of  the  sev 
eral  provinces,  in  order  to  explain  his  instructions  and  adjust  the 
details  of  the  projected  operations.  These  arrangements  complete, 
Braddock  advanced  to  the  borders  of  Virginia,  and  formed  his 
camp  at  Fort  Cumberland,  where  he  spent  several  weeks  in  train 
ing  the  raw  backwoodsmen  who  joined  him  into  such  discipline  as 
they  seemed  capable  of;  in  collecting  horses  and  wagons,  which 
could  only  be  had  with  the  utmost  difficulty ;  in  railing  at  the 
contractors,  who  scandalously  cheated  him ;  and  in  venting  his 
spleen  by  copious  abuse  of  the  country  and  the  people.  All  at 
length  was  ready,  and  early  in  June,  1755,  the  army  left  civiliza 
tion  behind,  and  struck  into  the  broad  wilderness  as  a  squadron 
puts  out  to  sea. 

It  was  no  easy  task  to  force  their  way  over  that  rugged  ground, 
covered  with  an  unbroken  growth  of  forest ;  and  the  difficulty  was 
increased  by  the  needless  load  of  baggage  which  encumbered  their 
march.  The  crash  of  falling  trees  resounded  in  the  front,  where 
a  hundred  axemen  labored  with  ceaseless  toil  to  hew  a  passage  for 
the  army.  The  horses  strained  their  utmost  strength  to  drag  the 
ponderous  wagons  over  roots  and  stumps,  through  gullies  and  quag 
mires  ;  and  the  regular  troops  were  daunted  by  the  depth  and 
gloom  of  the  forest  which  hedged  them  in  on  either  hand,  and 
closed  its  leafy  arch  above  their  heads.  So  tedious  was  their  pro 
gress,  that,  by  the  advice  of  Washington,  twelve  hundred  chosen 
men  moved  on  in  advance,  with  the  lighter  baggage  and  artillery, 
leaving  the  rest  of  the  army  to  follow,  by  slower  stages,  with  the 
heavy  wagons.  On  the  eighth  of  July,  the  advanced  body  reached 
the  Monongahela,  at  a  point  not  far  distant  from  Fort  du  Quesne. 
The  rocky  and  impracticable  ground  on  the  eastern  side  debarred 
their  passage,  and  the  General  resolved  to  cross  the  river  in  search 
of  a  smoother  path,  and  re-cross  it  a  few  miles  lower  down,  in 
order  to  gain  the  fort.  The  first  passage  was  easily  made,  and  the 
troops  moved,  in  glittering  array,  down  the  western  margin  of  the 
water,  rejoicing  that  their  goal  was  well  nigh  reached,  and  the  hour 
of  their  expected  triumph  close  at  hand. 

Scouts  and  Indian  runners  had  brought  the  tidings  of  Braddock's 


148  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

approach  to  the  French  at  Fort  du  Quesne.  Their  dismay  was 
great,  and  Contrecour,  the  commander,  thought  only  of  retreat, 
when  Beaujeu,  a  captain  in  the  garrison,  made  the  bold  proposal 
of  leading  out  a  party  of  French  and  Indians  to  waylay  the  Eng 
lish  in  the  woods,  and  harass  or  interrupt  their  march.  The  offer 
was  accepted,  and  Beaujeu  hastened  to  the  Indian  camp. 

Around  the  fort  and  beneath  the  adjacent  forest  were  the  bark 
lodges  of  savage  hordes,  whom  the  French  had  mustered  from  far 
and  near:  Ojibwas  and  Ottawas,  Hurons  and  Caughnawagas, 
Abenakis  and  Delawares.  Beaujeu  called  the  warriors  together, 
flung  a  hatchet  on  the  ground  before  them,  and  invited  them  to 
follow  him  out  to  battle  ;  but  the  boldest  stood  aghast  at  the  peril, 
and  none  wrould  accept  the  challenge.  A  second  interview  took 
place,  with  no  better  success  ;  but  the  Frenchman  was  resolved  to 
carry  his  point.  "  I  am  determined  to  go,"  he  exclaimed.  "  What, 
will  you  suffer  your  father  to  go  alone  ?"  His  daring  proved  con 
tagious.  The  warriors  hesitated  no  longer ;  and  when,  on  the 
morning  of  the  ninth  of  July,  a  scout  ran  in  wTith  the  news  that 
the  English  army  was  but  a  few  miles  distant,  the  Indian  camps 
were  at  once  astir  with  the  turmoil  of  preparation.  Chiefs 
harangued  their  yelling  followers,  braves  bedaubed  themselves 
with  war-paint,  smeared  themselves  with  grease,  hung  feathers  in 
their  scalp-locks,  and  whooped  and  stamped  till  they  had  wrought 
themselves  into  a  delirium  of  valor. 

That  morning,  James  Smith,  an  English  prisoner,  recently  cap 
tured  on  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania,  stood  on  the  rampart,  and 
saw  the  half-frenzied  multitude  thronging  about  the  gateway,  where 
kegs  of  bullets  and  gunpowder  were  broken  open,  that  each  might 
help  himself  at  will.  Then  band  after  band  hastened  away 
towards  the  forest,  followed  and  supported  by  nearly  two  hundred 
and  fifty  French  and  Canadians,  commanded  by  Beaujeu.  There 
were  the  Ottawas,  led  on,  it  is  said,  by  the  remarkable  man  whose 
name  stands  so  prominently  on  the  pages  of  this  history ;  there 
were  the  Hurons,  of  Lorette,  under  their  chief,  whom  the  French 
called  Athanose,  and  many  more,  all  keen  as  hounds  on  the  scent 
of  blood.  At  about  nine  miles  from  the  fort  they  reached  a  spot 
where  the  narrow  road  descended  to  the  river  through  deep  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


149 


gloomy ^woods,  and  where  two  ravines,  concealed  by  trees  and 
bushes,  seemed  formed  by  nature  for  an  ambuscade.  Beaujeu 
well  knew  the  ground ;  and  it  was  here  that  he  had  resolved  to 
fight ;  but  he  and  his  followers  were  well  nigh  too  late ;  for,  as 


HON.  J.  G.  SUTHERLAND, 

JABEZ  G.  SUTHERLAND  was  born  October  6,  1825,  in  Onondaga  county, 
New  York;  removed  with  his  lather  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and  has  ever 
since  resided  in  the  counties  of  Genesee  and  Saginaw.  He  commenced 
the  study  of  law  in  1844,  and  came  to  the  bar  in  1848.  In  1849  he  settled 
in  Saginaw  county,  and  was  appointed  by  the  Governor  prosecuting 
attorney  of  that  county.  He  served  as  delegate  in  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1850,  and  in  1853  as  a  member  of  the  lower  branch  of  the 
Legislature.  In  1858  he  was  the  unsuccessful  Democratic  candidate  for 


150  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

they  neared  the  ravines,  the  woods  were  resounding  with  the  roll 
of  the  British  drums. 

It  was  past  noon  of  a  day  brightened  with  the  clear  sunlight  of 
an  American  midsummer,  when  the  forces  of  Braddock  began,  for 
a  second  time,  to  cross  the  Monongahela,  at  the  fording-place, 
which,  to  this  day,  bears  the  name  of  their  ill-fated  leader.  The 
scarlet  columns  of  the  British  regulars,  complete  in  martial  appoint 
ment,  the  rude  backwoodsmen,  with  shouldered  rifles,  the  trains  of 
artillery  and  the  white-topped  wagons,  moved  on  in  long  proces 
sion  through  the  shallow  current,  and  slowly  mounted  the  opposing 
bank.  Men  were  there  whose  names  have  become  historic :  Gage, 
who,  twenty-one  years  later,  saw  his  routed  battalions  recoil  in 
disorder  from  before  the  breastworks  on  Bunker  Hill ;  Gates,  the 
future  conqueror  of  Burgoyne ;  and  one  destined  to  a  higher  fame, 
George  Washington,  a  boy  in  years,  a  man  in  calm  thought  and 
self-ruling  wisdom. 

With  steady  and  well-ordered  march  the  troops  advanced  into 
the  great  labyrinth  of  woods  which  shadowed  the  eastern  borders 
of  the  river.  Rank  after  rank  vanished  from  sight.  The  forest 
swallowed  them  up,  and  the  silence  of  the  wilderness  sank  down 
once  more  on  the  shores  and  waters  of  the  Monongahela. 

Several  engineers  and  guides  and  six  light  horsemen  led  the 
way ;  a  body  of  grenadiers  under  Gage  was  close  behind,  and  the 
army  followed,  in  such  order  as  the  rough  ground  would  permit, 
along  a  narrow  road,  twelve  feet  wide,  tunneled  through  the  dense 
and  matted  foliage.  There  were  flanking  parties  on  either  side, 
but  no  scouts  to  scour  the  woods  in  front,  and,  with  an  insane  con 
fidence,  Braddock  pressed  on  to  meet  his  fate.  The  van  had 
passed  the  low  grounds  that  bordered  the  river,  and  were  now 
ascending  a  gently  rising  ground,  where,  on  either  hand,  hidden  by 
thick  trees,  by  tangled  undergrowth  and  rank  grasses,  lay  the  two 
fatal  ravines.  Suddenly,  Gorden,  an  engineer  in  advance,  saw  the 
French  and  Indians  bounding  forward  through  the  forest  and 


Attorney-General;  in  1863  was  elected  circuit  judge  of  the  tenth  circuit, 
and  reflected  in  1869  without  opposition.  In  1870  he  was  elected  to 
Congress,  and  thereupon  resigned  his  judgeship. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  151 

along  the  narrow  track,  Beaujeu  leading  them  on,  dressed  in  a 
fringed  hunting-shirt,  and  wearing  a  silver  gorget  on  his  breast. 
He  stopped,  turned  and  waved  his  hat,  and  his  French  followers, 
crowding  across  the  road,  opened  a  murderous  fire  upon  the  head 
of  the  British  column ;  while,  screeching  their  war  cries,  the  Indians 
thronged  into  the  ravines,  or  crouched  behind  rocks  and  trees  on 
both  flanks  of  the  advancing  troops.  The  astonished  grenadiers 
returned  the  fire,  and  returned  it  with  good  effect ;  for  a  random 
shot  struck  down  the  brave  Beaujeu,  and  the  courage  of  the 
assailants  was  staggered  by  his  fall.  Dumas,  second  in  command, 
rallied  them  to  the  attack ;  and  while  he,  with  the  French  and 
Canadians,  made  good  the  pass  in  front,  the  Indians  from  their 
lurking  places  opened  a  deadly  fire  on  the  right  and  left.  In  a 
few  moments  all  wras  confusion.  The  advance  guard  fell  back  on 
the  main  body,  and  every  trace  of  subordination  vanished.  The 
fire  soon  extended  along  the  whole  length  of  the  army,  from  front 
to  rear.  Scarce  an  enemy  could  be  seen,  though  the  forests 
resounded  with  their  yells  ;  though  every  bush  and  tree  was  alive 
with  incessant  flashes ;  though  the  lead  flew  like  a  hail-storm,  and 
the  men  went  down  by  scores.  The  regular  troops  seemed  bereft 
of  their  senses.  They  huddled  together  in  the  road  like  flocks  of 
sheep ;  and  happy  did  he  think  himself  who  could  wedge  his  way 
into  the  midst  of  the  crowd,  and  place  a  barrier  of  human  flesh 
between  his  life  and  the  shot  of  the  ambushed  marksmen.  Many 
were  seen  eagerly  loading  their  muskets,  and  then  firing  them 
into  the  air,  or  shooting  their  own  comrades,  in  the  insanity  of  their 
terror.  The  officers,  for  the  most  part,  displayed  a  conspicuous 
gallantry ;  but  threats  and  commands  were  wasted  alike  on  the 
panic-stricken  multitude.  It  is  said  that,  at  the  outset,  Braddock 
showed  signs  of  fear ;  but  he  soon  recovered  his  wonted  intrepid 
ity.  Five  horses  were  shot  under  him,  and  five  times  he  mounted 
afresh.  He  stormed  and  shouted,  and,  while  the  Virginians  were 
fighting  to  good  purpose,  each  man  behind  a  tree,  like  the  Indians 
themselves,  he  ordered  them,  with  furious  menace,  to  form  in  pla 
toons,  where  the  fire  of  the  enemy  mowed  them  down  like  grass. 
At  length,  a  mortal  shot  silenced  him,  and  two  provincials  bore 
Mm  off  the  field.  Washington  rode  through  the  tumult,  calm  and 


152  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

undaunted.  Two  horses  were  killed  under  him,  and  four  bullets 
pierced  his  clothes  ;  but  his  hour  was  not  come,  and  he  escaped 
without  a  wound.  Gates  was  shot  through  the  body,  and  Gage, 
also,  was  severely  wounded.  Of  eighty-six  officers  only  twenty- 
three  remained  unhurt ;  and  of  twelve  hundred  soldiers,  who 
crossed  the  Monongahela,  more  than  seven  hundred  were  killed 
and  wounded.  None  suffered  more  severely  than  the  Virginians, 
who  had  displayed  throughout  a  degree  of  courage  and  steadiness 
which  put  the  cowardice  of  the  regulars  to  shame.  The  havoc 
among  them  was  terrible,  for,  of  their  whole  number,  scarcely  one- 
fifth  left  the  field  alive. 

The  slaughter  lasted  three  hours,  when,  at  length,  the  survivors, 
as  if  impelled  by  a  general  impulse,  rushed  tumultuously  from  the 
place  of  carnage,  and,  with  dastardly  precipitation,  fled  across  the 
Monongahela.  The  enemy  did  not  pursue  beyond  the  river,  flock 
ing  to  the  field  to  collect  the  plunder,  and  gather  a  rich  harvest  of 
scalps.  The  routed  troops  pursued  their  flight  until  they  met  the 
rear  division  of  the  army,  under  Colonel  Dunbar ;  and  then  their 
senseless  terrors  did  not  abate.  Dunbar's  soldiers  caught  the 
infection.  Common  baggage,  provisions  and  wagons  were 
destroyed,  and  all  fled  together,  eager  to  escape  from  the.  shadows 
of  those  awful  woods,  whose  horrors  haunted  their  imagination. 
They  passed  the  defenseless  settlements  of  the  border,  and  hurried 
on  to  Philadelphia,  leaving  the  unhappy  people  to  defend  them 
selves  as  they  might  against  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife. 

The  calamities  of  this  disgraceful  rout  did  not  cease  with  the 
loss  of  a  few  hundred  soldiers  on  the  field  of  battle  ;  for  it  brought 
upon  the  province  all  the  miseries  of  an  Indian  war.  Those  among 
the  tribes  who  had  thus  far  stood  neutral,  wavering  between  the 
French  and  English,  now  hesitated  no  longer.  Many  of  them  had 
been  disgusted  by  the  contemptuous  behavior  of  Braddock.  All 
had  learned  to  despise  the  courage  of  the  English,  and  to  regard 
their  own  prowess  with  unbounded  complacency.  It  is  not  in 
Indian  nature  to  stand  quiet  in  the  midst  of  war ;  and  the  defeat 
of  Braddock  was  a  signal  for  the  western  savages  to  snatch  their 
tomahawks  and  assail  the  English  settlements  with  one  accord, 
murdering  and  pillaging  with  ruthless  fury,  and  turning  the  fron- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


153 


tier  of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia  into  one  wide  scene  of  havoc 
and  desolation. 

The  three  remaining  expeditions  which  the  British  ministry  had 
planned   for   that  year's    campaign  were  attended  with  various 


HON.  JOHN  N.  MELLEN. 

JOHN  N.  MELLEN,  the  present  State  Senator  from  the  twenty  first  sena 
torial  district  of  this  State,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Garry,  Chautauqua 
county,  New  York,  September  30,  1831.  His  father,  Leander  Mellen, 
was  born  at  Shaftsbury,  Bennington  county,  Vt.,  February  17,  1797. 

Mr.  Mellen  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1837,  and  settled  in  the  town  of 
Washington,  Macomb  county.  He  received  a  thorough  common  school 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  county,  and  removed  to  the  town  of 
Lenox,  in  the  same  county,  in  1841.  In  1869  he  again  changed  his  place 
of  residence,  and  settled  in  the  village  of  Romeo,  where  he  still  resides. 


154  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

results.  Acadia  was  quickly  reduced  by  the  forces  of  Colonel 
Monkton ;  but  the  glories  of  this  easy  victory  were  tarnished  by 
an  act  of  cruelty.  Seven  thousand  of  the  unfortunate  people, 
refusing  to  take  the  prescribed  oath  of  allegiance,  were  seized  by 
the  conquerors,  torn  from  their  homes,  placed  on  shipboard,  like 
cargoes  of  negro  slaves,  and  transported  to  the  British  provinces. 
The  expedition  against  Niagara  was  a  total  failure,  for  the  troops 
did  not  even  reach  their  destination.  The  movement  against 
Crown  Point  met  with  no  better  success,  as  regards  the  main  object 
of  the  enterprise.  Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  season,  and  other 
causes,  the  troops  proceeded  no  farther  than  Lake  George ;  but 
the  attempt  was  marked  by  a  feat  of  arms,  which,  in  that  day  of 
failures,  was  greeted,  both  in  England  and  America,  as  a  signal 
victory. 

General  Johnson,  afterwards  Sir  William  Johnson,  had  been 
charged  with  the  conduct  of  the  Crown  Point  expedition ;  and  his 
little  army,  a  rude  assemblage  of  hunters  and  farmers  from  New 
York  and  New  England,  officers  and  men  alike  ignorant  of  war, 
lay  encamped  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  George.  Here, 
while  they  languidly  pursued  their  preparations,  their  active  enemy 
anticipated  them.  Baron  Dieskau,  who,  with  a  body  of  troops, 
had  reached  Quebec  in  the  squadron  which  sailed  from  Brest  in 
the  spring,  had  intended  to  take  forcible  possession  of  the  English 
fort  of  Oswego,  erected  upon  ground  claimed  by  the  French  as  a 
part  of  Canada.  Learning  Johnson's  movement,  he  changed  his 
plan,  crossed  Lake  Champlain,  made  a  circuit  by  way  of  Wood 

From  1847  until  1853  Mr.  Mellen  was  actively  engaged  in  the  govern 
ment  surveys  of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  and  explored  the  wild  and  pic 
turesque  scenery  of  the  Lake  Superior  region.  During  the  winter  of 
1853-54  he  made  a  trip  to  the  Pacific  coast,  and  remained  two  years 
among  the  gold  mines,  becoming  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  man 
ners  and  customs  of  those  bold  adventurers  who,  in  search  of  wealth, 
had  forsaken  their  comfortable  homes  in  the  East,  and  exposed  them 
selves  to  the  dangers  and  hardships  of  this  new  country,  peopled  with 
hostile  Indians.  He  was  with  Lieutenant  Richardson  on  a  topographical 
survey  of  Northern  California,  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory,  in 
1856,  and  while  on  this  expedition  learned  a  considerable  of  the  habits  of 
the  different  tribes  of  Indians  dwelling  in  those  regions. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  155 

Creek,  and  gained  the  rear  of  the  English  army,  Avith  a  force  of 
about  two  thousand  French  and  Indians.  At  midnight,  on  the 
seventh  of  September,  the  tidings  reached  Johnson  that  the  army 
of  the  French  baron  was  but  a  few  miles  distant  from  his  camp. 
A  council  of  war  was  called,  and  the  resolution  formed  of  detach 
ing  a  thousand  men  to  reconnoitre.  If  they  are  to  be  killed,  said 
Hendrick,  the  Mohawk  chief,  they  are  too  many  ;  if  they  are  to 
fight,  they  are  too  few.  His  remonstrance  was  unheeded  ;  and  the 
brave  old  savage,  unable  from  age  and  corpulence  to  fight  on  foot, 
mounted  his  horse  and  joined  the  English  detachment,  with  two 
hundred  of  his  warriors.  At  sunrise,  the  party  defiled  from  the 
camp,  and,  entering  the  forest,  disappeared  from  the  eyes  of  their 
comrades. 

Those  who  remained  behind  labored  with  all  the  energy  of 
alarm  to  fortify  their  unprotected  camp.  An  hour  elapsed,  when, 
from  the  distance,  was  heard  a  sudden  explosion  of  musketry. 
The  excited  soldiers  suspended  their  work  to  listen.  A  rattling 
fire  succeeded,  deadened  among  the  woods,  but  growing  louder  and 
nearer,  till  none  could  doubt  that  their  comrades  had  met  the 
French,  and  were  defeated. 

This  was  indeed  the  case.  Marching  through  thick  woods,  by 
the  narrow  and  newly-cut  road  which  led  along  the  valley  south 
ward  from  Lake  George,  Williams,  the  English  commander,  had 
led  his  men  full  into  an  ambuscade,  where  all  Dieskau's  army  lay 
in  wait  to  receive  them.  From  the  woods  on  both  sides  rose  an 
appalling  shout,  followed  by  a  storm  of  bullets.  Williams  was 
soon  shot  down  ;  Hendrick  shared  his  fate  ;  many  officers  fell,  and 

In  1857  lie  returned  to  "the  States,"  and  was  engaged  in  government 
surveys  at  the  head  of  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  in  the  State  of  Min 
nesota.  Here  he  acquired  much  valuable  information  of  the  soil,  climate 
and  products  of  that  region,  and  also  increased  his  knowledge  of  the 
peculiar  traits  of  the  red  man.  In  1860  he  was  occupied  on  surveys  in 
the  northern  portion  of  Wisconsin,  with  Alfred  Millard,  Esq. ,  and  Har 
vey  Mellen.  He  was  employed  in  the  early  surveys  of  Dacota  Territory 
in  1861-2-3,  under  the  supervision  of  G.  D.  Hill,  surveyor-general.  Since 
that  time  Mr.  Mellen  has  been  engaged  in  exploring  the  unsettled  por 
tions  of  the  States  of  Wisconsin  and  Michigan,  in  search  of  pine  lands 
and  minerals,  in  which  he  is  an  extensive  dealer. 


156  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

the  road  was  strewed  with  dead  and  wounded  soldiers.  The  Eng 
lish  gave  way  at  once.  Had  they  been  regular  troops,  the  result 
would  have  been  worse ;  but  every  man  was  a  woodsman  and  a 
hunter.  Some  retired  in  bodies  along  the  road  ;  while  the  greater 
part  spread  themselves  through  the  forest,  opposing  a  wide  front  to 
the  enemy,  fighting  stubbornly  as  they  retreated,  and  shooting 
back  at  the  French  from  behind  every  tree  or  bush  that  could 
afford  a  cover.  The  Canadians  and  Indians  pressed  them  closely, 
darting,  with  shrill  cries,  from  tree  to  tree,  while  Dieskau's  regu 
lars,  with  steadier  advance,  bore  all  before  them.  Far  and  wide 
through  the  forest  rang  shout  and  shriek  and  Indian  whoop,  min 
gled  with  the  deadly  rattle  of  guns.  Retreating  and  pursuing,  the 
combatants  passed  northward  towards  the  English  camp,  leaving 
the  ground  behind  them  strewn  with  dead  and  dying.  A  fresh 
detachment  from  the  camp  came  in  aid  of  the  English,  and  the 
pursuit  was  checked.  Yet  the  retreating  men  were  not  the  less 
rejoiced  when  they  could  discern  between  the  brown  columns  of 
the  woods,  the  mountains  and  waters  of  Lake  George,  with  the 
tents  of  their  encampments  on  its  shores.  The  French  followed  no 
farther.  The  blast  of  their  trumpets  was  heard  recalling  their 
scattered  men  for  a  final  attack. 

During  the  absence  of  Williams'  detachment,  the  main  body  of 
the  army  had  covered  the  front  of  their  camp  with  a  breastwork — 
if  the  name  can  be  applied  to  a  row  of  logs — behind  which  the 
marksmen  lay  flat  on  their  faces.  This  preparation  was  not  yet 
complete,  when  the  defeated  troops  appeared  issuing  from  the 
woods.  Breathless  and  perturbed,  they  entered  the  camp,  and  lay 
down  with  the  rest ;  and  the  army  waited  the  attack  in  a  frame  of 
mind  which  boded  ill  for  the  result.  Soon,  at  the  edge  of  the 
woods  which  bordered  the  open  space  in  front,  painted  Indians 
were  seen,  and  bayonets  glittered  among  the  foliage,  shining,  in 
the  homely  comparison  of  a  New  England  soldier,  like  a  row  of 
icicles  on  a  January  morning.  The  French  regulars  marched  in 
column  to  the  edge  of  the  clearing,  and  formed  in  line,  confronting 
the  English  at  the  distance  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  Their 
complete  order,  their  white  uniforms  and  bristling  bayonets,  were 
a  new  and  startling  sight  to  the  eyes  of  Johnson's  rustic  soldiers, 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


157 


who  raised  but  a  feeble  cheer  in  answer  to  the  shouts  of  their  ene 
mies.  Happily,  Dieskau  made  no  assault.  The  regulars  opened  a 
distant  fire  of  musketry,  throwing  volley  after  volley  against  the 
English,  while  the  Canadians  and  Indians,  dispersing  through  the 


E.    B.    WARD. 

EBER  B.  WARD  was  born  in  Canada  in  1811,  his  parents  having  fled 
into  that  country  from  Vermont,  to  escape  the  ravages  consequent  upon 
"  the  war  of  eighteen  hundred  and  twelve."  But  he  was  not  destined  to 
remain  long  in  the  enemy's  country.  As  soon  as  the  smoke  had  died 
away  from  the  last  battle-field,  the  family  returned  to  their  pleasant  home 
in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  wrhere  they  remained  until  Mr.  Ward  was 
about  six  years  old.  At  this  period,  the  future  of  the  American  States 
being  fixed,  civilization  again  resumed  its  westward  march.  Vermont, 
among  other  New  England  States,  contributed  to  the  movement,  and  in 
1817  many  of  the  best  families  of  the  Green  Mountain  State  were  seeking 


158  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

morasses  on  each  flank  of  the  camp,  fired  sharply,  under  cover  of 
the  trees  and  bushes.  In  the  rear,  the  English  were  protected  by 
the  lake,  but  on  the  three  remaining  sides  they  were  hedged  in  by 
the  flash  and  smoke  of  musketry. 

The  fire  of  the  French  had  little  effect.  The  English  recovered 
from  their  first  surprise,  and  every  moment  their  confidence  rose 
higher  and  their  shouts  grew  louder.  Leveling  their  long  hunting 
guns  with  cool  precision,  they  returned  a  fire  which  thinned  the 
ranks  of  the  French,  and  galled  them  beyond  endurance.  Two 
cannon  were  soon  brought  to  bear  upon  the  morasses  which  shel 
tered  the  Canadians  and  Indians ;  and,  though  the  pieces  were 
served  with  little  skill,  the  assailants  were  soon  terrified  by  the 
crashing  of  the  balls  among  the  trunks  and  branches,  that  they 
gave  way  at  once.  Dieskau  still  persisted  in  the  attack.  From 
noon  until  past  four  o'clock,  the  firifag  was  scarcely  abated,  when, 
at  length,  the  French,  who  had  suffered  extremely,  showed  signs 
of  wavering.  At  this,  with  a  general  shout,  the  English  broke 
from  their  camp  and  rushed  upon  their  enemies,  striking  them 
down  with  the  butts  of  their  guns,  and  driving  them  through  the 
woods  like  deer.  Dieskau  was  taken  prisoner,  dangerously 
wounded,  and  leaning  for  support  against  the  stump  of  a  tree. 
The  slaughter  would  have  been  great,  had  not  the  English  gen 
eral  recalled  the  pursuers,  and  suffered  the  French  to  continue 
their  flight  unmolested.  Fresh  disasters  still  awaited  the  fugitives ; 

a  more  lucrative  inheritance  in  the  boundless  West  and  South.  Mr. 
Ward's  parents  were  among  the  travelers.  They  had  set  out  for  Ken 
tucky,  but  being  delayed  at  Waterford,  Pennsylvania,  for  some  time, 
owing  to  a  disarrangement  in  their  plans  for  transportation,  a  sad  dispen 
sation  of  Providence  interrupted  their  journey.  Mr.  Ward's  mother,  after 
a  severe  illness,  died,  and  was  buried  at  this  place.  Changing  their 
course,  the  father  and  son  went  into  Ohio.  Subsequently  events  led  them 
westward  until  they  were  permanently  located  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  Ward.first  landed  in  Detroit  in  1821,  when  he  was  only  nine  years 
old.  Then  he  was  a  poor  boy,  without  even  the  prospect  of  fortune  and 
success;  but,  observe  the  course  he  pursued,  and  the  results  that  attended 
his  efforts.  Nature  seems  to  have  qualified  him  to  battle  the  perils  of 
pioneer  life;  and,  as  if  to  increase  the  hardships  that  apparent  ill  fortune 
had  already  visited  upon  him,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  secured  the 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  159 

for,  as  they  approached  the  scene  of  that  morning's  ambuscade, 
they  were  greeted  by  a  volley  of.  musketry.  Two  companies  of 
New  York  and  New  Hampshire  rangers,  who  had  come  out  from 
Fort  Edward  as  a  scouting  party,  had  lain  in  wait  to  receive  them. 
Favored  by  the  darkness  of  the  woods — for  night  was  now 
approaching — they  made  so  sudden  and  vigorous  an  attack,  that 
the  French  thought  them  far  superior  in  numbers,  were  totally 
routed  and  dispersed.  This  memorable  conflict  has  cast  its  dark 
associations  over  one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  in  America. 
Near  the  scene  of  the  evening  fight,  a  pool,  half  overgrown  by 
weeds  and  water  lilies,  and  darkened  by  the  surrounding  forest,  as 
pointed  out  to  the  tourist,  and  he  is  told  that  beneath  its  stagnant 
waters  lie  the  bones  of  three  hundred  Frenchmen  deep  buried  in 
mud  and  slime. 

The  war  thus  began  was  prosecuted  for  five  succeeding  years 
with  the  full  energy  of  both  nations.  The  period  was  one  of  suf 
fering  and  anxiety  to  the  colonists,  who,  knowing  the  full  extent 
of  their  danger,  spared  no  exertion  to  avert  it.  In  the  year  1758, 
Lord  Abercrombie,  who  then  commanded  in  America,  had  at  his 
disposal  a  force  amounting  to  fifty  thousand  men,  of  whom  the 
greater  part  were  provincials.  The  operations  of  the  war 
embraced  a  wide  extent  of  country,  from  Cape  Breton  and  Nova 
Scotia  to  the  sources  of  the  Ohio  ;  but  nowhere  was  the  contest  so 
actively  carried  on  as  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lake  George,  the 
waters  of  which,  joined  with  those  of  Lake  Champlain,  formed 

humble  position  of  cabin  boy  on  a  small  schooner  on  the  lakes.  Thus 
was  modestly  inaugurated  Captain  Ward's  marine  life.  It  is  inexpedient 
to  tax  the  reader  with  all  the  changing  scenes  that  came  over  his  life 
since  this  dedication  of  boyhood  to  the  interests  of  navigation.  It  is 
enough  to  say  that  from  these  humble  beginnings,  by  hard  industry  and 
timely  enterprise,  he  has  won  success  for  lake  navigation,  and  wealth  for 
himself.  His  accumulations  are  said  to  exceed  five  millions,  and  may  be 
summed  up  as  follows:  $1,000,000  in  Chicago  Rolling  Mills  stock, 
$500,000  in  Milwaukee  Rolling  Mills  stock,  $500,000  in  Wyandotte  Roll 
ing  Mills  stock,  $500,000  in  floating  property,  and  over  $2,000,000  in  real 
estate. 

Mr.  E.  B.  Ward  is  now  about  sixty -two  years  of  age,  but  is  prosecuting 
his  enormous  business  with  all  the  vigor  and  exactness  of  his  youth. 


160  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  main  avenue  of  communication  between  Canada  and  the  Brit 
ish  provinces.  Lake  George  is  more  than  thirty  miles  long,  but 
of  width  so  slight  that  it  seems  like  some  broad  and  placid  river, 
enclosed  between  ranges  of  lofty  mountains  ;  now  contracting  into 
narrows,  dotted  with  islands  and  shadowed  by  cliffs  and  crags,  now 
spreading  into  a  clear  and  open  expanse.  It  had  long  been  known 
to  the  ^  French.  The  Jesuit,  Isaac  Jogues,  bound  on  a  fatal  mis 
sion  to  the  ferocious  'Mohawks,  had  reached  its  banks  on  the  eve  of 
Corpus  Christi  Day,  and  named  it  Lac  St.  Sacrement.  Its  soli 
tude  was  now  rudely  invaded.  Armies  passed  and  re-passed  upon 
its  tranquil  bosom.  At  its  northern  point  the  French  planted 
their  stronghold  of  Ticonderoga  ;  at  its  south  stood  the  English 
fort,  William  Henry ;  while  the  mountains  and  waters  between 
were  a  scene  of  ceaseless  ambuscades,  surprises,  and  forest  skir 
mishing.  Through  summer  and  winter,  the  crack  of  rifles  and  the 
cries  of  men  gave  no  rest  to  their  echoes  ;  and  at  this  day,  on  the 
field  of  many  a  forgotten  fight,  are  dug  up  rusty  tomahawks, 
corroded  bullets,  and  human  bones,  to  attest  the  struggles  of  the 
past. 

The  earliest  years  of  the  war  were  unpropitious  to  the  English, 
whose  commanders  displayed  no  great  degree  of  vigor  or  ability. 
In  the  summer  of  1756,  the  French  general,  Montcalm,  advanced 
upon  Oswego,  took  it,  and  leveled  it  to  the  ground.  In  August  of 
the  following  year,  he  struck  a  heavier  blow.  Passing  Lake 
George  with  a  force  of  eight  thousand  men,  including  about  two 
thousand  Indians,  gathered  from  the  farthest  parts  of  Canada,  he 
laid  siege  to  Fort  William  Henry,  close  to  the  spot  where  Dieskau 
had  been  defeated  two  years  before.  Planting  his  batteries  against 
it,  he  beat  down  its  ramparts  and  dismounted  its  guns,  until  the 
garrison,  after  a  brave  defense,  were  forced  to  capitulate.  They 
marched  out  with  the  honors  of  war ;  but,  scarcely  had  they  done 
so,  when  Montcalm's  Indians  assailed  them,  cutting  down  and 
scalping  them  without  mercy.  Those  who  escaped  came  into  Fort 
Edward  with  exaggerated  accounts  of  the  horrors  from  which  they 
fled,  and  a  general  terror  was  spread  through  the  country.  The 
inhabitants  were  mustered  from  all  parts  to  repel  the  advance  of 
Montcalm ;  but  the  French  general,  satisfied  with  what  he  had 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


161 


done,  re-passed  Lake  George,  and   retired   behind  the  walls  of 
Ticonderoga. 

In  the  year  1758,  the  war  began  to  assume  a  different  aspect, 
for  Pitt  was  at  the  head  of  the  government.     Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst 


HON.  CHARGES   M.  GARRISON. 

CHARLES  M.  GARRISON,  a  leading  citizen  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  was 
born  near  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1837.  His  father, 
John  J.  Garrison,  commenced  business  in  Detroit  in  1829  as  a  wholesale 
grocer.  After  being  burned  out  and  losing  his  entire  stock  on  two  differ 
ent  occasions,  he  established  himself  a  third  time,  and,  in  the  midst  of 
unbounded  success,  he  retired  in  1863,  being  succeeded  by  his  son,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

Charles  M.  Garrison  spent  his  youthful  days,  as  he  has  his  entire  life, 
11 


162  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

laid  siege  to  the  strong  fortress  of  Louisburg,  and  at  length  reduced 
it ;  while  in  the  South,  General  Forbes  marched  against  Fort  du 
Quesne,  and,  more  fortunate  than  his  predecessor,  Braddock,  drove 
the  French  from  that  important  point.  Another  successful  stroke 
was  the  destruction  of  Fort  Frontenac,  which  was  taken  by  a  pro 
vincial  army,  under  Colonel  Bradstreet.  These  achievements  were 
counterbalanced  by  a  great  disaster.  Lord  Abercrombie,  with  an 
army  of  sixteen  thousand  men,  advanced  to  the  head  of  Lake 
George,  the  place  made  memorable  by  Dieskau's  defeat  and  the 
loss  of  Fort  William  Henry.  On  a  brilliant  July  morning,  he 
embarked  his  whole  force  for  an  attack  on  Ticonderoga.  Many 
of  those  present  have  recorded  with  admiration  the  beauty  of  the 
spectacle — the  lines  of  boats,  filled  with  troops,  stretching  far  down 
the  lake,  the  flashing  of  oars,  the  glittering  of  weapons,  and 
the  music  ringing  back  from  crags  and  rocks,  or  dying,  in  mel 
lowed  strains,  among  the  distant  mountains.  At  night,  the  army 
landed,  and,  driving  in  the  French  outposts,  marched  through  the 
woods  towards  Ticonderoga.  One  of  their  columns,  losing  its  way 
in  the  forest,  fell  in  with  a  body  of  the  retreating  French ;  and, 
in  the  conflict  that  ensued,  Lord  Howe,  the  favorite  of  the  army, 
was  shot  dead.  On  the  eighth  of  July,  they  prepared  to  storm 
the  lines  which  Montcalm  had  drawn  across  the  peninsula,  in 
front  of  the  fortress.  Advancing  to  the  attack,  they  saw  before 
them  a  breastwork  of  uncommon  height  and  thickness.  The 
French  were  drawn  up  behind  it,  their  heads  alone  visible, 
as  they  leveled  their  muskets  against  the  assailants ;  while,  for  a 

in  the  city  of  Detroit,  receiving  a  thorough  education  in  her  common 
schools. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  entered  his  father's  store,  and  has  been  con 
stantly  engaged  in  the  wholesale  grocery  trade  ever  since,  building  up 
one  of  the  most  extensive  and  important  establishments  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  Garrison  has  filled  a  number  of  positions  of  importance  and  trust, 
and  has  ever  been  known  to  perform  liis  duties  faithfully  and  well.  In 
1871  he  was  elected  president  of  the  Board  of  Trade  without  opposition, 
and  his  performance  of  the  duties  of  that  responsible  position  was  such 
as  to  secure  his  unanimous  reelection  to  the  same  office  in  1872. 

When  the  disastrous  fires  of  the  fall  of  1871  swept  over  the  northern 
and  western  portions  of  our  State,  laying  whole  towns  in  ashes,  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  163 

hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  work,  the  ground  was  covered  with 
felled  trees,  with  sharpened  branches,  pointing  outwards.  The 
signal  of  assault  was  given.  In  vain,  the  Highlanders,  screaming 
with  rage,  hewed  with  their  broadswords  among  the  branches, 
struggling  to  get  at  the  enemy.  In  vain  the  English,  with  their 
deep-toned  shout,  rushed  on  in  heavy  columns.  A  tempest  of 
musket  balls  met  them,  and  Montcalm's  cannon  swept  the  whole 
ground  with  terrible  carnage.  A  few  officers  and  men  forced  their 
way  through  the  branches,  passed  the  ditch,  climbed  the  breast 
work,  and,  leaping  among  the  enemy,  were  instantly  bayonetted. 
The  English  fought  four  hours  with  determined  valor,  but  the 
position  of  the  French  was  impregnable ;  and  at  length,  having 
lost  two  thousand  of  their  number,  the  army  drew  off,  leaving 
many  of  their  dead  scattered  upon  the  field.  A  sudden  panic 
seized  the  defeated  troops.  They  rushed  in  haste  to  their  boats, 
and,  though  no  pursuit  was  attempted,  they  did  not  regain  their 
composure  until  Lake  George  was  between  them  and  the  enemy. 
The  fatal  lines  of  Ticonderoga  were  not  soon  forgotten  in  the 
provinces  ;  and  marbles  in  Westminster  Abbey  preserve  the  mem 
ory  of  those  who  fell  on  that  disastrous  day. 

This  repulse,  far  from  depressing  the  energies  of  the  British 
commanders,  seemed  to  stimulate  them  to  new  exertion  ;  and  the 
campaign  of  the  next  year,  1759,  had  for  its  object  the  immediate 
and  total  reduction  of  Canada.  This  tmhappy  country  was  full 
of  misery  and  disorder.  Peculation  and  every  kind  of  corruption 
prevailed  among  its  civil  and  military  chiefs,  a  reckless  licentious- 
doing  incalculable  damage  to  our  pine  forests  and  farming  interests,  and 
rendering  hundreds  of  families  houseless  and  destitute,  Mr.  Garrison  did 
his  utmost  to  render  assistance,  and  contributed  largely  to  that  end.  He 
was  appointed  chairman  of  the  State  relief  committee,  by  Governor 
Baldwin,  and  in  this  position  he  did  a  work  that  prevented  a  large 
amount  of  suffering,  and  brought  happiness  to  many  an  unfortunate 
family  throughout  the  desolate  region  traversed  by  the  fires. 

In  the  autumn  of  1872  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  fourth  ward  of 
Detroit  in  her  Common  Council,  and  in  the  proceedings  of  that  body  he 
exerts  considerable  influence,  and  is  ever  found  on  the  side  of  economy 
and  honesty. 


164  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ness  was  increasing  among  the  people,  and  a  general  famine  seemed 
impending ;  for  the  population  had  of  late  years  been  drawn 
away  for  military  service,  and  the  fields  were  left  untilled.  In 
spite  of  their  sufferings,  the  Canadians,  strong  in  rooted  antipathy 
to  the  English,  and  highly  excited  by  their  priests,  resolved  on 
fighting  to  the  last.  Prayers  were  offered  up  in  the  churches, 
masses  said,  and  penance  enjoined,  to  avert  the  wrath  of  God 
from  the  colony,  while  everything  was  done  for  its  defense  which 
the  energies  of  a  great  and  patriotic  leader  could  effect. 

The  details  of  the  fall  of  Quebec,  and  the  death  of  Montcalm 
and  Wolfe,  having  been  given  in  another  chapter,  we  will  now 
follow  the  English  army  to  Western  Canada,  Detroit,  and  other 
western  outposts. 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE  ENGLISH  TAKE  POSSESSION  OF  THE  WESTERN  OUTPOSTS  OF  CANADA 
—  MARCH  OF  MAJOR  ROGERS  AND  THE  PROVINCIAL  RANGERS  — 
APPEARANCE  OF  PONTIAC — SURRENDER  OF  DETROIT  AND  MICHILI- 
MACKINAC  TO  THE  ENGLISH — END  OF  FRENCH  RULE  IN  MICHIGAN. 

CANADA  had  fallen !  Montcalm,  her  bold  defender,  had  also 
fallen,  and  now  the  plains  around  Montreal  were  dotted  with 
three  victorious  English  armies.  The  work  of  conquest  was  com 
plete.  Canada,  with  all  her  dependencies,  had  yielded  to  the 
British  Crown.  It  remained  only  for  the  English  to  take  posses 
sion  of  those  western  outposts,  where  the  lilies  of  France  were 
still  flying  from  the  flag  staff.  The  execution  of  this  very 
dangerous  task  was  assigned  to  Major  Robert  Rogers,  a  provincial 
officer,  and  a  native  of  New  Hampshire. 

Rogers  commanded  a  body  of  provincial  rangers.  Putnam  and 
Stark  were  his  associates ;  and  it  was  in  this  woodland  warfare 
that  the  former  achieved  many  of  those  startling  adventures 
which  have  made  his  name  familiar  at  every  New  England  fire 
side. 

On  the  twelfth  of  September,  1760,  Rogers,  then  at  the  height 
of  his  reputation,  received  orders  from  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst  to 
ascend  the  lakes  with  a  detachment  of  rangers,  and  take  posses 
sion,  in  the  name  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  of  Detroit,  Michili- 
mackinac,  and  other  western  posts  included  in  the  capitulation  of 
Montreal.  He  left  the  latter  place  on  the  following  day  with  two 
hundred  rangers  in  fifteen  whale  boats. 

They  gained  Lake  Ontario,  skirted  its  northern  shore,  amid 
rough  and  boisterous  weather,  and,  crossing  at  its  western  extrem 
ity,  reached  Fort  Niagara  on  the  first  of  October.  Carrying 
their  boats  over  the  portage,  they  launched  them  once  more  above 
the  cataract  and  slowly  pursued  their  voyage ;  while  Rogers  and 


166  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

a  few  attendants  hastened  on  in  advance  to  Fort  Pitt,  to  deliver 
dispatches,  with  which  he  was  charged,  to  General  Monkton. 
This  accomplished,  he  re-joined  his  army  at  Presque  Isle,  about 
the  end  of  the  month,  and  the  whole  proceeded  together  along  the 
southern  margin  of  Lake  Erie.  "  The  season  was  far  advanced," 
says  Parkman,  "  the  wind  wras  chill,  the  lake  was  stormy,  and  the 
woods  on  shore  were  tinged  with  the  fading  hues  of  autumn." 

On  the  seventh  of  November  they  reached  the  mouth  of  a  river, 
called  by  Rogers,  the  Chogage.  No  body  of  troops  under  the 
British  flag  had  ever  penetrated  so  far  before.  The  day  was  dull 
and  rainy,  and,  resolving  to  rest  until  the  weather  should  improve, 
Rogers  ordered  his  men  to  prepare  their  encampment  in  the 
neighboring  forest. 

Soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  rangers,  a  party  of  Indian  chiefs 
and  warriors  entered  the  camp.  They  proclaimed  themselves  an 
embassy  from  Pontiac,  ruler  of  all  that  country,  and  directed,  in 
his  name,  that  the  English  should  advance  no  further  until  they 
had  had  an  interview  with  the  great  chief,  who  was  already  close 
at  hand.  In  truth,  before  the  day  closed,  Pontiac  himself 
appeared ;  and  it  is  here,  for  the  first  time,  that  this  remarkable 
man  stands  forth  on  the  pages  of  the  History  of  Michigan.  He 
greeted  Rogers  with  the  haughty  demand,  what  was  his  business 
in  that  country,  and  how  dared  he  enter  it  without  his  permission. 
Rogers  informed  him  that  the  French  were  defeated,  that  Canada 
had  surrendered,  and  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  take  possession  of 
Detroit,  and  restore  a  general  peace  to  white  men  and  Indians 
alike.  Pontiac  listened  with  attention,  but  only  replied  that  he 
should  stand  in  the  path  of  the  English  until  morning.  Having 
inquired  if  the  strangers  were  in  need  of  anything  which  his 
country  could  afford,  he  withdrew,  with  his  chiefs,  at  nightfall, 
to  his  own  encampment ;  while  the  English,  ill  at  ease,  and  sus 
pecting  treachery,  stood  well  on  their  guard  throughout  the  night. 

In  the  morning,  Pontiac  returned  to  the  camp,  with  his  attend 
ant  chiefs,  and  made  his  reply  to  Rogers'  speech  of  the  previous 
day.  He  was  willing,  he  said,  to  live  at  peace  with  the  English, 
and  suffer  them  to  remain  in  his  country,  as  long  as  they  treated 
him  with  due  respect  and  deference.  The  Indian  chiefs  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


167 


provincial  officers  smoked  the  calumet  together,  and  perfect  har 
mony  seemed  established  between  them.  Up  to  this  time,  Pontiac 
had  been  the  fast  ally  of  the  French,  but  it  is  easy  to  see  the 
motive  that  impelled  him  to  renounce  his  old  allegiance.  The 


HON.  LYSANDER  WOODWARD. 

LYSANDER  WOODWARD,  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Oakland 
county,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Columbia,  Tolland  county,  Connecticut, 
November  19,  1817.  His  parents,  Asahel  Woodward  and  Harriet  House, 
were  natives  of  that  State. 

In  1825,  with  his  parents,  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Chili,  Monroe 
county,  N.  Y.  From  here  he  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  the  fall  of  1838. 

He  married  Miss  Peninah  A.  Simpson  on  the  llth  of  May,  1843,  and 
settled  near  the  village  of  Rochester,  Oakland  county,  where  he  still 
resides. 


168  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

American  forests  never  produced  a  man  more  shrewd  and  ambi 
tious.  Ignorant  as  he  was  of  what  was  passing  in  the  world,  he 
could  clearly  see  that  the  French  power  was  on  the  wane,  and  he 
knew  his  own  interest  too  well  to  prop  a  falling  cause. 

A  cold  storm  of  rain  set  in,  and  the  rangers  were  detained  sev 
eral  days  in  thejr  encampment.  During  this  time  Rogers  had 
several  interviews  with  Pontiac,  and  was  constrained  to  admire 
the  native  vigor  of  his  intellect,  no  less  than  the  singular  control 
which  he  exercised  over  those  around  him.  On  the  twelfth  of 
November  the  detachment  was  again  in  motion,  and  within  a  few 
days  they  had  reached  the  western  end  of  Lake  Erie.  Here  they 
heard  that  the  Indians  of  Detroit  were  in  arms  against  them,  and 
that  four  hundred  warriors  lay  in  ambush  at  the  entrance  of  the 
river  to  cut  them  off.  The  powerful  influence  of  Pontiac  being 
exerted  in  favor  of  his  new  friends,  the  warriors  abandoned  their 
design,  and  the  rangers  continued  their  march  toward  Detroit,  now 
near  at  hand. 

Lieutenant  Brehm  was  sent  forward  by  Rogers  to  inform  Cap 
tain  Beletre,  the  commandant  at  Detroit,  that  Canada  had  capitu 
lated,  that  his  garrison  was  included  in  the  capitulation,  and  that 
an  English  detachment  was  approaching  to  relieve  it.  Captain 
Beletre,  in  great  wrath  at  these  tidings,  disregarded  the  message 

Mr.  Woodward's  chief  occupation  is  that  of  a  farmer,  but  lie  lias  held 
many  important  offices  in  his  township.  In  1800  he  was  elected  Repre 
sentative  from  the  first  district  of  Oakland  county  to  the  State  Legislature, 
and  served  with  considerable  distinction  during  one  regular  and  two 
extra  sessions.  He  was  county  treasurer  of  Oakland  county  two  terms, 
from  1866  to  1870,  and  performed  his  duties  in  a  thoroughly  satisfactory 
manner.  Mr.  Woodward  was  also  president  of  the  Oakland  County 
Agricultural  Society  for  three  years,  and  in  this  position  did  great  service 
in  advancing  the  agricultural  interests  of  his  county.  He  was  among  the 
first  to  conceive  and  advocate  the  building  of  the  Detroit  &  Bay  City 
Railroad,  and  has  been  instrumental  in  canvassing  for  and  promoting  its 
construction.  He  was  chosen  the  first  president  of  this  company  in  1871, 
which  important  office  he  held  up  to  May  15,  1873,  and  he  still  remains 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  company. 

Mr.  Woodward  owns  one  of  the  largest  and  best  cultivated  farms  in 
Oakland  county. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN 


169 


as  an  informal  communication,  and  resolved  to  keep  a  hostile  atti 
tude  to  the  last.  He  did  his  best  to  rouse  the  fury  of  the  Indians, 
but  his  faithless  allies  showed  symptoms  of  defection  in  his  hour 
of  need. 


HON.  PETER   C.  ANDRE. 

PETER  CHARLES  ANDRE,  of  Saginaw,  was  born  in  Detroit,  Michigan, 
October  25,  1817.  His  grandfather,  Joseph  Andre,  was  the'founder  and 
proprietor  of  Vincennes,  Indiana,  whence  Joseph  Clark  Andre,  the 
father  of  Peter  C.,  removed  in  1801  to  Detroit,  where,  on  July  29,  1813, 
he  married  Clemelia,  daughter  of  Capt.  John  Fearson,  of  Boston,  Mass., 
who  is  known  as  among  the  earliest  navigators  of  the  upper  lakes.  Of 
the  issue  of  this  marriage  there  are  still  surviving,  besides  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Julia,  wife  of  Major  Placedus  Ord,  U.  S.  A.,  Elias  C.  and 
Alexander  Andre,  Josephine  Schick  and  Louisa  Calnon. 


170  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Rogers  had  now  entered  the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  River,  whence 
he  sent  forward  Captain  Campbell  with  a  copy  of  the  capitulation 
and  a  letter  from  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil,  directing  that  the 
place  should  be  given  up,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  agreed 
upon  between  him  and  General  Amherst.  Beletre  was  forced  to 
yield,  and  with  a  very  ill  grace,  declared  himself  and  his  garrison 
at  the  disposal  of  the  English  commander. 

The  whale  boats  of  the  rangers  moved  slowly  upwards  between 
the  low  banks  of  the  Detroit,  until  at  length  they  came  in  sight 
of  the  little  town.  Before  them,  on  the  right  side,  they  could  see 
the  village  of  the  Wyandots,  and  on  the  left,  the  clustered  lodges 
of  the  Pottawattomies,  while  a  little  beyond,  the  flag  of  France  was 
flying  for  the  last  time  above  the  bark  roofs  and  weather-beaten 
palisades  of  the  little  fortified  settlement. 

The  rangers  landed  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  pitched  their  tents 
upon  a  meadow,  while  two  officers,  with  a  small  detachment,  went 
across  the  river  to  take  possession  of  the  place.  In  obedience  to 
their  summons,  the  French  garrison  defiled  upon  the  plain,  and 

Mr.  Andre's  family  consists  of  Ins  wife  (formerly  Miss  Clarissa  M. 
Stark),  two  daughters  and  himself. 

At  a  very  early  age  he  entered  the  dry  goods  store  of  8.  P.  Fletcher, 
then  in  the  "  John  R.  Williams  Block,"  Detroit,  as  a  clerk.  After  spend 
ing  a  few  years  in  that  capacity,  and  before  reaching  his  majority,  he 
went  into  the  mercantile,  forwarding  and  commission  business,  on  his 
own  account,  at  Grand  Haven,  Michigan,  and  in  1843  established  five 
trading  posts  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Lower  Peninsula.  These  he 
conducted  until  1846,  when  he  removed  to  Saginaw  and  opened  a  mer 
cantile  house,  which  he  continued  until  1803.  Since  then  he  has  been, 
and  still  is,  engaged  largely  in  the  real  estate  business. 

Mr.  Andre's  fortune  is  among  the  largest  in  Saginaw;  and  it  is  perhaps 
due  him  to  say  that  his  tact,  sagacity  and  energy,  have  carried  him  suc 
cessfully  through  the  great  financial  troubles  of  the  last  forty  years. 

He  has  been  mayor  of  Saginaw  and  register  of  deeds  for  Saginaw 
county,  and  has  held  responsible  positions  under  the  general  government. 

He  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  all  matters  pertaining  to  the 
development  and  growth  of  his  city  and  county.  His  advice  and  opin 
ions  are  much  sought  in  the  councils  of  both,  and  he  contributes  freely 
and  generously  to  every  enterprise  tending  to  their  prosperity  and  wel 
fare. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  171 

laid  down  their  arms.  Thefleur  de  Us  was  lowered  from  the  flag 
staff,  and  the  cross  of  St.  George  rose  aloft  in  its  place,  while 
seven  hundred  Indian  warriors,  lately  the  active  allies  of  the 
French,  greeted  the  sight  with  a  burst  of  triumphant  yells. 

The  Canadian  militia  were  next  called  together,  and  disarmed. 
The  Indians  beheld  these  actions  with  amazement,  being  quite  at 
a  loss  to  understand  why  so  many  men  should  bow  before  so  few. 
"  Nothing,"  says  Parkman,  "  is  more  effective  in  gaining  the  respect 
or  even  attachment  of  Indians,  than  a  display  of  power."  The 
savage  spectators  conceived-  the  loftiest  ideas  of  English  prowess, 
and  were  astonished  at  the  forbearance  of  the  conquerors  in  not 
killing  their  vanquished  enemies  on  the  spot. 

Thus,  on  the  29th  of  November,  1760,  Detroit  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  English.  The  garrison  were  sent  as  prisoners  down 
the  lake,  but  the  Canadian  inhabitants  were  allowed  to  retain 
their  farms  and  houses,  on  condition  of  swearing  allegiance  to  the 
British  crown.  An  officer  was  sent  southward  to  take  possession 
of  the  forts  Miami  and  Ouatanon,  which  guarded  the  communica 
tion  between  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio ;  while  Rogers  himself,  with 
a  small  party,  proceeded  northward,  to  relieve  the  French  garri 
son  of  Michilimackinac.  The  storms  and  gathering  ice  of  Lake 
Huron  forced  him  back,  without  accomplishing  his  object,  and 
Michilimackinac,  with  the  three  remoter  posts  of  Ste.  Marie, 
Green  Bay,  and  St.  Joseph,  remained  for  a  time  in  the  hands  of 
the  French.  During  the  next  season,  however,  a  detachment  of 
the  Sixtieth  Regiment,  then  called  the  Royal  Americans,  took  pos 
session  of  them,  a  full  account  of  which  will  be  found  farther  on. 

Nothing  now  remained  within  the  power  of  the  French,  except 
the  few  posts  and  settlements  on  the  Mississippi  and  the  Wabash, 
not  included  in  the  capitulation  of  Montreal.  The  fertile  wilder 
ness  beyond  the  Alleghanies,  over  which  France  had  claimed 
sovereignty — that  boundless  forest,  with  its  tracery  of  interlacing 
streams,  which,  like  veins  and  arteries,  gave  it  life  and  nourish 
ment—had  passed  into  the  hands  of  England.  The  French  in 
America  were  completely  subdued,  and,  to  the  English  mind,  there 
wTas  little  to  be  feared  from  the  red  man.  The  lapse  of  two  years, 
however,  sufficed  to  show  how  complete  and  fatal  was  the  mistake. 


CHAPTER  XI. 


HOSTILITY  BETWEEN  THE  NORTHERN  INDIANS  AND  THE  ENGLISH — 
EXPERIENCE  OF  THE  FIRST  ENGLISH  TRADERS  WHO  VISITED  MICH- 
ILIMACKINAC — THEIR  PERSECUTIONS — THE  ENGLISH  SOLDIERS  TAKE 
POSSESSION  OF  MICHILIMACKINAC. 

WITH  the  change  of  jurisdiction  narrated  in  the  preceding  chap 
ter  a  new  scene  opens  before  us.  The  victory  on  the  Heights  of 
Abraham  gave  to  England  the  possession  of  a  wide  extent  of  terri 
tory  ;  but  that  territory  was  vast  forest,  broken  only  here  and 
there  by  a  prairie,  a  lake,  or  an  Indian  clearing.  The  emblems  of 
power  in  these  illimitable  wastes  were  the  log  forts  which  had 
been,  here  and  there,  erected  by  the  French  for  trading  posts. 
The  English  took  possession  of  these,  garrisoned  them  with  a  few 
men,  seemingly  oblivious  of  the  dangers  by  which  they  were  sur 
rounded,  dependent,  as  they  were,  upon  the  Indians  for  supplies, 
and  weakened  by  the  long  distances  which  separated  them  from 
each  other.  But,  weak  as  they  were,  their  presence  alarmed  the, 
Indians.  The  untutored  mind  of  the  savage  could  not  comprehend 
by  what  right  the  British  flag  was  unfurled  over  their  dominions, 
or  why  the  English  should  claim  any  right  to  their  lands  because 
of  a  victory  over  the  French.  Hence,  from  the  first,  they  were 
filled  with  suspicion  and  dislike  ;  and  the  conduct  of  the  English 
was  such  as  to  foster,  rather  than  allay,  the  feeling.  The  French 
had  always  treated  the  red  man  as  a  brother.  "  They  called  us 
children,"  said  a  Chippewa  chief,  "  and  we  found  them  fathers." 
But  the  English  were  cold  and  harsh.  The  French  had  made 
them  liberal  presents  ;  but  the  English  spurned  them  from  their 
doors.  The  French  traders  had  dealt  honestly  by  them  ;  but  the 
English  had  cheated  them  and  outraged  their  families. 

Another  source  of  discontent  was  the  advent  of  English  set 
tlers.     Their  choicest  lands  were  invaded,  and  the  graves  of  their 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


173 


ancestors  desecrated.     These  things  aroused  some  of  the  tribes  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  excitement. 

In  the  meantime,  the  French  were  not  idle.     Every  advantage 
was  taken  of  the  conduct  of  the  English  and  the  natural  fears  of 


HON.   CHARLES   S.   MAY. 

CHARLES  SEDGWICK  MAY  was  born  at  Sandisfield,  Berkshire  county, 
Mass.,  March  22,  1830.  In  the  year  1834,  his  father's  1'amily  removed  to 
Richland,  Kalamazoo  county,  Michigan,  being  among  the  earliest  settlers 
of  the  town.  Until  his  fifteenth  year  he  worked  upon  his  father's  farm, 
attending  district  school  during  the  winter  months.  He  then  entered  as 
a  student  the  Kalamazoo  branch  of  the  Michigan  University,  and  was  in 
attendance  with  more  or  less  regularity  for  four  years,  acquiring  some 
knowledge  of  Latin  and  Greek,  and  laying  the  foundations  of  the 
rhetorical  and  oratorical  excellence  for  which  he  has  since  been  so  well 
known.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  had  acquired  a  command  of  both 


174  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  Indians.  They  told  the  Indians  that  the  English  were  deter 
mined  to  exterminate  them,  or  drive  them  from  their  homes  and 
their  hunting  grounds  ;  that  the  King  of  France  had  been  asleep, 
but  was  now  awake,  and  hastening  with  a  vast  army  to  the  assist 
ance  of  his  red  children. 

Another  cause  which  tended  to  increase  their  excitement,  and 
hasten  an  outbreak,  was  the  appearance  of  a  prophet  among  the 
Delawares.  He  taught  them  to  lay  aside  everything  which  they 
had  received  from  the  white  man,  and  thus  strengthen  and  purify 
their  natures,  and  make  themselves  acceptable  to  the  Great  Spirit. 
He  told  them  that  by  so  doing  the  favor  of  the  Great  Spirit  would 
be  conciliated,  and  the  white  man  would  be  forever  driven  from 
their  dominions. 

This  excitement  soon  led  them  to  action.  In  the  spring  of  1761, 
Captain  Campbell,  then  commanding  at  Detroit,  learned  that  a 
deputation  of  Senecas  had  come  to  the  neighboring  village  of  the 
Wyandots,  for  the  purpose  of  instigating  the  latter  to  destroy  him 
and  his  garrison.  Upon  examination,  the  plot  was  found  to  be 
general,  and  other  posts  were  to  share  the  fate  of  his  own ;  but  his 
promptness  in  sending  information  to  the  other  commanders 

extemporaneous  and  written  oratory  rarely  met  with  in  so  young  a  man. 
This  naturally  led  him  to  the  choice  of  law  as  a  profession.  After  read 
ing  at  home  for  some  time  such  elementary  law  books  as  he  could  obtain, 
he  pursued  his  legal  studies  more  regularly  at  Bennington,  Vermont,  and 
at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  while  at  the  same  time  he  was  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  anti-slavery  journals  of  the  State.  He  was  duly  admit 
ted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan  in  1854.  From  November,  1855,  to  October, 
1856,  he  was  associate  political  editor  of  the  Detroit  Daily  Tribune,  acting 
a  considerable  portion  of  that  time  as  its  editorial  correspondent  in 
Washington.  Finding  this  employment  too  confining,  he  returned  to 
the  practice  of  law  at  Battle  Creek,  and  in  September,  1857,  removed  to 
Kalamazoo,  where  he  has  since  resided,  practicing  his  profession. 

In  November,  1860,  Mr.  May  was  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney  for 
Kalamazoo  county.  Immediately  after  the  bombardment  of  Sumter,  in 
April,  1861,  he  resigned  his  office  to  raise  a  company  for  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Michigan  infantry,  and,  with  his  men,  started  at  once  for 
the  seat  of  war.  After  serving  through  the  first  campaign  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  participating  with  honor  in  the  battles  of  Blackburn's 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  175 

nipped  the  conspiracy  in  the  bud.  During  the  following  year,  a 
similar  design  was  detected  and  suppressed.  But  these  proved  to 
be  only  warnings  of  what  was  to  come.  In  the  spring  of  1763,  a 
scheme  was  matured,  "  greater  in  extent,  deeper,  and  more  com 
prehensive  in  design — such  a  one  as  was  never,  before  or  since, 
conceived  or  executed  by  a  North  American  Indian."  It  contem 
plated,  first,  a  sudden  and  contemporaneous  assault  upon  all  the 
English  forts  around  the  lakes  ;  and,  second,  the  garrisons  having 
been  destroyed,  the  turning  of  a  savage  avalanche  of  destruction 
upon  the  defenseless  frontier  settlements,  until,  as  many  fondly 
believed,  the  English  should  be  driven  into  the  Atlantic  Ocean, 
and  the  Indians  reinstated  in  their  primitive  possessions. 

But,  before  we  proceed  further  with  the  narration  of  the  events 
of  this  conspiracy,  let  us  turn  our  attention  to  the  condition  of 
Michilimackinac,  and  note  the  events  which  were  there  transpir 
ing.  The  Indians  of  that  locality  as  deeply  regretted  the  change 
whick  had  taken  place  as  their  more  southern  neighbors,  and  for 
the  same  causes. 

This  post,  it  will  be  remembered,  did  not  fall  into  the  hands  of 
the  English  until  about  one  year  after  the  surrender  of  Detroit. 

Ford  and  Bull  Run,  he  was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  resign  his  commis 
sion,  and  return  to  his  home  and  profession. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  he  was  elected  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Michigan; 
as  such,  presiding  over  the  State  Senate  during  its  sessions,  though  the 
youngest  member  of  that  body,  with  signal  ability  and  general  approval. 
He  was  universally  conceded  to  have  been  one  of  the  ablest  presiding 
officers  that  had  ever  occupied  the  chair  of  the  Senate  chamber. 

On  the  9th  of  February,  J863,  he  addressed  the  Senate,  in  a  carefully 
prepared  speech,  urging  the  Legislature  to  sustain  the  government  in 
putting  down  the  rebellion.  The  speech  was  widely  circulated  by  his 
Republican  friends,  and  was  admitted,  even  by  his  political  opponents, 
to  be  an  effort  of  great  power. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1864,  during  the  extra  session,  at  the  unani 
mous  request  of  the  Republican  members  of  both  branches  of  the 
Legislature,  Mr.  May  made  a  speech  in  the  Hall  of  Representatives,  enti 
tled  "  Union,  Victory  and  Freedom,"  of  such  clearness  of  statement  and 
force  of  argument,  that  it  was  published  as  a  pamphlet  and  very  widely 
circulated,  and  copied  into  many  of  the  leading  Republican  journals 


176  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Our  purpose  is  now  to  narrate  some  of  the  important  events  which 
transpired  during  the  last  year  of  French  occupation  of  this 
ancient  Indian  metropolis.  The  English  flag  floated  over  every  post 
in  the  lake  region  save  this.  Here,  alone,  the  fleur  de  Us  still 
waved  in  the  breeze  ;  and  here  were  collected  those  savages  who 
were  most  hostile  to  the  Eoglish.  The  French  constantly  goaded 
their  Indian  allies  to  greater  hostility  to  the  English — determined 
to  harass  the  enemy  they  could  not  conquer.  The  feeling  which 
animated  these  Indians  cannot  be  better  described  than  by  nar 
rating  some  of  the  adventures  of  Alexander  Henry,  the  first  Eng 
lish  trader  who  ventured  among  them.  No  treaty  having  been 
made,  it  was  with  difficulty  that  Henry  secured  permission  to 
trade.  But  consent  was  at  last  given,  and,  on  the  third  of  August, 
1761,  he  began  his  perilous  journey.  Reaching  Michilimackinac, 
he  secured  a  house,  but  was  immediately  warned  by  the  inhabit 
ants  that  his  position  was  far  from  safe.  They  advised  him  to  lose 
no  time  in  returning  to  Detroit ;  but  he  disregarded  their  admo 
nitions,  and  concluded  to  take  his  chances,  his  friend  Campion 
having  declared  his  belief  that  the  Canadian  settlers  were  more 
hostile  than  the  Indians,  and  that  their  admonitions  were  prompted 
by  jealousy  of  English  traders. 

throughout  the  West.  Since  the  close  of  his  term  as  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  he  has  held  no  public  office. 

In  the  national  and  State  campaigns  from  1856  to  1870,  he  was  actively 
engaged  as  a  political  orator  on  the  Republican  side.  During  the  cam 
paign  of  1872,  he  supported  Horace  Greeley  for  President,  running  as 
elector  at  large  on  the  Liberal  State  ticket.  Although  prevented  by  a 
severe  and  protracted  illness  from  participating  in  the  campaign  to  any 
extent  that  season,  yet  on  the  27th  of  September,  while  still  much  enfee 
bled,  and  suffering  from  disease,  he  made  a  notable  and  powerful  speech 
at  Union  Hall,  in  Kalamazoo,  in  vindication  of  the  Liberal  movement, 
which  was  widely  read  and  circulated  throughout  the  State. 

In  conclusion,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  well  known  as  a  man  of 
uncompromising  integrity,  and  of  indomitable  and  undaunted  moral 
courage  in  his  advocacy  of  the  great  principles  of  justice,  temperance, 
morality  and  equal  rights,  and  both  for  his  own  high  character  and  his 
unquestioned  ability,  he  commands  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his 
fellow  men. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


177 


Fort  Michilimackinac  was  built  by  order  of  the  Governor-Gen 
eral  of  Canada,  and  garrisoned  with  a  small  number  of  militia, 
who,  having  families,  soon  became  less  soldiers  than  settlers.  The 
fort  and  settlement  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  strait  connecting 


HON.  B.  W.  HUSTON. 

BENJAMIN  W.  HUSTON,  of  Vassar,  Tuscola  county,  was  born  near  the 
city  of  Rochester,  New  York,  March  5,  1831.  His  father,  B.  W.  Huston, 
Sr. ,  removed  from  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  spring  of  1836,  and  set 
tled  upon  a  farm  in  the  township  of  Canton,  Wayne  county,  Michigan, 
where  he  is  still  living. 

Mr.  Huston,  Jr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  very  young,  evinced 
a  strong  desire  for  an  education,  but  the  moderate  means  of  his  parents 
prevented  them  from  gratifying  this  desire  only  in  a  limited  manner.  At 
12 


178  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Lake  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan.  The  settlement  had  an  area  of 
two  acres,  and  was  inclosed  with  pickets  of  cedar  wood,  and  was 
so  near  the  water's  edge,  that  when  the  wind  was  from  the  west, 
the  waves  broke  against  the  stockade.  On  the  bastions  were  two 
small  pieces  of  English  brass  cannon.  Within  the  stockade  were 
thirty  houses,  neat  in  their  appearance,  and  tolerably  commodious, 
and  a  church,  in  which  mass  was  celebrated  by  a  Jesuit  priest. 
The  number  of  families  was  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  houses, 
and  their  subsistence  was  derived  from  the  Indian  traders,  who 
assembled  there  on  their  voyages  to  and  from  Montreal.  Michili- 
mackinac  was  the  place  of  deposit,  and  point  of  departure  between 
the  upper  countries  and  the  lower.  Here  the  outfits  were  prepared 
for  the  countries  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Mississippi,  Lake 
Superior  and  the  Northwest ;  and  here  the  return,  in  furs,  was 
collected  and  embarked  for  Montreal. 

Henry  was  not  released  from  the  visits  and  admonitions  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  fort  before  he  received  the  equivocal  intelli 
gence  that  the  whole  band  of  Chippewas,  from  the  Island  of  Mich- 
ilimackinac,  was  arrived,  with  the  intention  of  paying  him  a  visit. 
There  was  in  the  fort  a  Mr.  Farley,  an  interpreter,  lately  in  the 

eight  years  of  age  he  was  taken  from  the  district  school  and  placed  at 
work  on  his  father's  farm,  and  from  that  time  until  he  was  nineteen 
years  of  age  he  seldom  received  over  a  month  or  six  weeks'  schooling 
during  the  year,  and  that  in  the  winter  season,  when  his  services  could 
not  be  made  available  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  his  health 
failed  him  to  such  an  extent  that  he  could  not  perform  the  laborious 
duties  of  a  farmer,  and,  consequently,  he  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  an  eleven 
weeks'  term  at  the  seminary,  in  Ypsilanti.  He  taught  school  the  follow 
ing  winter,  and  worked  on  the  farm  the  two  succeeding  summers, 
attending  the  Ypsilanti  seminary  during  the  fall  terms  of  those  years. 

In  the  spring  of  1853,  Mr.  Huston  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  C.  Joslin, 
of  Ypsilanti,  as  a  law  student.  At  this  time  he  was  destitute  of  all  pecu 
niary  assistance,  and  had  to  rely  entirely  upon  his  own  resources  to 
acquire  the  desired  knowledge.  He,  however,  pushed  his  le-gal  studies 
diligently,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Ann  Arbor  in  September,  1854. 

At  the  time  he  was  reading  law  he  married  Miss  Nancy  J.  Vought,  of 
Superior  township,  Washtenaw  county,  Mich. 

In  the  spring  of  1855  he  removed  from  Ypsilanti  to  Tuscola  county, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  179 

employ  of  the  French  commandant.  He  had  married  a  Chippewa 
woman,  and  was  said  to  possess  great  influence  over  the  nation  to 
which  his  wife  belonged.  Doubtful  as  to  the  kind  of  visit  which 
he  was  about  to  receive,  Henry  sent  for  this  interpreter,  and 
requested,  first,  that  he  would  have  the  kindness  to  be  present  at 
the  interview ;  and,  secondly,  that  he  would  inform  him  of  the 
intention  of  the  band.  Mr.  Farley  agreed  to  be  present ;  and,  as 
to  the  object  of  the  visit,  replied,  that  it  was  consistent  with  a  uni 
form  custom,  that  a  stranger,  on  his  arrival,  should  be  wraited 
upon  and  welcomed  by  the  chiefs  of  the  nation,  who,  on  their 
part,  always  gave  a  small  present,  and  always  expected  a  large 
one ;  but  as  to  the  rest,  declared  himself  unable  to  answer  for 
the  particular  views  of  the  Chippewas  on  this  occasion,  he 
being  an  Englishman,  and  the  Indians  having  made  no  treaty  with 
the  English.  He  thought  there  might  be  danger,  the  Indians 
having  protested  that  they  would  not  suffer  an  Englishman  to 
remain  in  their  part  of  the  country.  This  information  was  far 
from  agreeable ;  but  there  was  no  resource  except  in  fortitude  and 
patience. 

At  two  o'clock   in  the  afternoon,  the  Chippewas   visited  Mr. 
Henry,  at  his  house,  about  sixty  in  number,  and  headed  by  Mina- 


and  settled  in  the  town  of  Vassar,  where  he  still  resides.  When  he 
reached  Vassar  he  found  himself  in  a  county  that  was  almost  an  unbroken 
wilderness,  having  only  two  thousand  inhabitants  inside  its  boundaries. 
His  possessions  consisted  of  ninety  dollars  worth  of  law  books,  a  loving 
wife,  and  several  hundred  dollars  of  debts.  This  was  rather  a  discour 
aging  start  in  life,  but  Mr.  Huston  showed  himself  equal  to  the  heavy 
task  before  him.  He  received  the  appointment  of  prosecuting  attorney 
for  his  county,  at  a  salary  of  $150  a  year,  and  with  this,  and  what  he 
earned  by  hard  work  at  his  profession,  succeeded  in  maintaining  himself 
for  several  years,  until  his  county  grew,  and  his  practice  with  it. 

From  the  time  of  attaining  his  majority  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
rebellion,  Mr.  Huston  acted  with  the  Democratic  party.  In  1856  he 
received  the  nomination  of  prosecuting  attorney  of  his  county  from  that 
party,  but  the  county  being  strongly  Republican,  he  was  defeated.  In 
1858  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  and  circuit  court  commissioner 
on  the  Democratic  ticket,  although  that  party  was  still  in  the  minority. 
At  the  following  election  he  was  defeated  for  the  same  office  by  only 


180  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

vavana,  their  chief.  They  walked  in  single  file,  each  with  his 
tomahawk  in  one  hand  and  scalping-knife  in  the  other.  Their 
bodies  were  naked  from  the  waist  upward,  except  in  a  few 
instances,  where  blankets  were  thrown  loosely  over  their  shoulders. 
Their  faces  were  painted  with  charcoal,  worked  up  with  grease  ; 
their  bodies  with  white  clay,  in  patterns  of  various  fancies.  Some 
had  feathers  thrust  through  their  noses,  and  their  heads  decorated 
with  the  same.  It  is  not  proper  to  dwell  here  on  the  sensations 
with  which  Henry  beheld  the  approach  of  this  uncouth,  if  not 
frightful  assemblage. 

The  chief  entered  first,  and  the  rest  followed,  without  noise. 
On  receiving  a  sign  from  the  former,  the  latter  seated  themselves 
on  the  floor.  Minavavana  appeared  to  be  about  fifty  years  of  age. 
He  was  six  feet  in  height,  and  had  in  his  countenance  an  inde 
scribable  mixture  of  good  and  evil.  Looking  steadfastly  at 
Henry,  where  he  sat — with  an  interpreter  on  either  side,  and  several 
Canadians  behind  him — he  entered  at  the  same  time  into  conversa 
tion  with  Campion,  Henry's  friend,  inquiring  how  long  it  was 
since  Mr.  Henry  left  Montreal,  and  observing  that  the  English,  as 
it  would  seem,  were  brave  men,  and  not  afraid  of  death,  since 
they  dared  to  come,  as  Henry  had  done,  fearlessly  among  their 
enemies. 

twenty-one  votes.  At  this  election  he  supported  Stephen  A.  Douglass  for 
the  presidency,  but  has  not  acted  with  the  Democratic  party  since. 

In  1802,  at  the  request  of  the  war  committee  of  his  county,  he  raised 
and  organized  Co.  "D,"  of  the  23d  Michigan  Infantry  Volunteers,  and 
went  out  with  it  as  captain.  He  started  for  the  seat  of  war  on  the  18th 
of  September,  1862,  and  remained  with  the  regiment  until  the  winter  of 
1865.  Capt.  Huston  was  in  active  service  in  many  of  the  most  important 
engagements  during  the  war,  among  which  were  Morgan's  raid,  the  battle 
of  Campbell's  Station,  and  the  siege  of  Knoxville.  He  was  engaged  in 
the  whole  campaign  in  East  Tennessee,  and  was  with  Gen.  Sherman  in 
the  campaign  against  Atlanta.  Being  previously  promoted  to  major, 
and  owing  to  the  sickness  of  Col.  Spaulding,  he  was  in  command  of  the 
regiment  during  the  greater  portion  of  this  campaign.  Major  Huston 
took  an  active  part  in  the  engagements  around  Lost  Mountain  and  at 
Resaca.  At  the  latter  place  he  displayed  great  courage,  remaining  on  the 
field  after  all  the  men  and  officers  had  retreated  to  the  cover  of  the  woods. 
With  the  exception  of  two  short  leaves  of  absence  of  twenty  days  each, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  181 

The  Indians  now  gravely  smoked  their  pipes,  while  llenry 
inwardly  endured  "the  torture  of  suspense.  At  length,  the  pipes 
being  finished,  as  well  as  a  long  pause  by  which  they  were  suc 
ceeded,  Minavavana,  taking  a  few  strings  of  wampum  in  his  hand, 
began  the  following  speech  : 

"  Englishman,  it  is  to  you  that  I  speak,  and  I  demand  your 
attention.  Englishman,  you  know  that  the  French  king  is  our 
father.  He  promised  to  be  such,  and  we,  in  return,  promised  to  be 
his  children.  This  promise  we  have  kept.  Englishman,  it  is  you 
that  have  made  war  with  this  our  father.  You  are  his  enemies, 
and  how,  then,  could  you  have  the  boldness  to  venture  among  us, 
his  children  ?  You  know  that  his  enemies  are  ours.  Englishman, 
we  are  informed  that  our  father,  the  King  of  France,  is  old  and 
infirm,  and  that,  being  fatigued  with  making  war  with  your  nation, 
he  has  fallen  asleep.  During  his  sleep,  you  have  taken  advantage 
of  him,  and  possessed  yourselves  of  Canada.  But  his  nap  is  almost 
at  an  end.  I  think  I  hear  him  already  stirring  and  inquiring  for 
his  children,  the  Indians ;  and  when  he  does  awake,  what  must 
become  of  you?  He  will  destroy  you  utterly.  Englishman, 
although  you  have  conquered  the  French,  you  have  not  yet  con 
quered  us !  We  are  not  your  slaves !  These  lakes,  these  woods 
and  mountains,  were  left  to  us  by  our  ancestors.  They  are  our 

one  of  which  was  on  account  of  injuries,  Mr.  Huston  was  not,  absent 
from  duty  a  single  day  from  the  time  he  entered  the  service  until  he  left 
tho  same,  in  January,  1865. 

In  the  spring  of  1865,  he  returned  to  Vassar,  and  again  renewed  the 
practice  of  his  profession.  In  1866  he  was  elected  circuit  court  commis 
sioner  of  his  county,  which  position  he  soon  after  resigned.  He  was 
elected  a  delegate  to  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  in  1867,  without 
opposition.  In  this  convention  he  succeeded  in  winning  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  associates.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  was  elected  as  a 
Representative  to  the  State  Legislature  by  a  large  -majority,  and  served 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  public  lands,  being  also  a  member  of 
the  judiciary  committee.  Mr.  Huston  was  reflected  to  the  House  in  1870, 
and  was  a  prominent  candidate  for  the  speakership  before  the  Republican 
caucus,  being  defeated  by  only  one  ballot,  and  that  in  the  absence  of  a 
number  of  his  friends.  He  served  as  speaker  pro  tern  of  the  House  during 
the  sessions  of  1869  and  1871-2,  and  was  chairman  of  the  judiciary  com 
mittee  during  the  latter  session.  As  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 


182  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

inheritance,  and  we  will  part  with  them  to  none.  Your  nation 
supposes  that  we,  like  the  white  people,  cannot  live  without  bread, 
and  pork,  and  beef.  But  you  ought  to  know  that  He,  the  Great 
Spirit  and  Master  of  Life,  has  provided  food  for  us  in  these  spacious 
lakes,  and  on  these  woody  mountains. 

"  Englishman,  our  father,  the  King  of  France,  has  employed  our 
young  men  to  make  war  upon  your  nation.  In  this  warfare  many 
of  them  have  been  killed,  and  it  is  our  custom  to  retaliate,  until 
such  time  as  the  spirits  of  the  slain  are  satisfied.  But  the  spirits 
of  the  slain  are  to  be  satisfied  in  either  of  two  way? :  the  first  is 
by  the  spilling  of  the  blood  of  the  nation  by  which  they  fell ;  the 
other,  by  covering  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and  thus  allaying  the 
resentment  of  their  relations.  This  is  done  by  making  presents. 

"Englishman,  your  king  has  never  sent  us  any  presents,  nor 
entered  into  any  treaty  with  us,  wherefore  he  and  we  are  still  at 
war ;  and  until  be  does  these  things,  we  must  consider  that  we  have 
no  other  father  or  friend  among  the  white  men  but  the  King  of 
France.  But,  for  you,  we  have  taken  into  consideration  that  you 
have  ventured  your  life  among  us  in  the  expectation  that  we 
should  not  molest  you.  You  do  not  come  armed,  with  an  inten 
tion  to  make  war  ;  you  come  in  peace,  to  trade  with  us,  and  supply 

Convention  and  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Huston  was  one  of  the  most  untir 
ing  and  faithful  workers  in  those  bodies,  never  being  absent  from  roll 
call  of  either  of  them  during  their  entire  sessions.  He  was  one  of  the 
managers  in  the  impeachment  trial  of  Commissioner  Edmonds,  and  he  is 
said  to  have  made  the  most  convincing  speech,  from  the  facts  that  were 
proven,  that  was  made  on  the  part  of  the  prosecution.  He  was  one  of 
the  delegates  to  the  Republican  National  Convention,  which  met  in 
Philadelphia,  in  1872,  and  nominated  General  Grant  for  a  second  term  of 
the  presidency. 

As  a  lawyer,  he  has  been  remarkably  successful,  and  although  he 
started  in  a  new  country,  and  under  very  discouraging  circumstances,  he 
has,  through  the  dint  of  hard  labor,  built  up  a  large  and  lucrative  prac 
tice. 

As  a  man,  he  is  social  and  pleasant  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow 
men.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  superin 
tendent  of  their  Sunday  school.  He  contributes  freely  to  all  charitable 
and  religious  purposes,  and  has  the  entire  confidence  of  the  community  in 
which  he  resides. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  183 

us  with  necessaries,  of  which  we  are  much  in  want.  We  shall 
regard  you,  therefore,  as  a  brother ;  and  you  may  sleep  tranquilly, 
without  fear  of  the  Chippewas.  As  a  token  of  our  friendship,  we 
present  you  this  pipe  to  smoke." 


RAY  HADDOCK. 

RAY  HADDOCK,  county  clerk  of  Wayne  county,  was  born  in  Herkimer 
county,  New  York,  in  the  year  1815.  He  early  manifested  a  strong  pre 
dilection  for  the  "  art  preservative  of  all  arts,"  and  commenced  his  appren 
ticeship  in  a  printing  office,  in  Little  Falls,  in  1830,  closing  it  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  whither  he  went  with  his  parents,  in  1832.  He  worked  as  a 
journeyman  printer  in  Columbus,  Cincinnati,  Louisville,  St.  Louis,  New 
Orleans,  Natchez,  Jackson  and  Clinton,  Mississippi ;  established  the 
Republican  at  Brandon,  in  the  same  State,  in  1837;  returned  north  in  1839, 
and  was  connected  successfully  with  the  Cincinnati  Message,  Ohio  States 
man,  Cleveland  Times,  and  Sandusky  Mirror;  came  to  Detroit  in  April, 
1857,  and  accepted  the  position  of  commercial  editor  of  the  Detroit  Tri 
bune,  continuing  in  the  same  capacity  upon  the  Advertiser  and  Tribune,  after 
the  consolidation  of  the  two  journals,  a  position  which  he  resigned  in 
1866,  to  accept  a  situation  upon  the  Detroit  Post.  Mr.  Haddock  was 
appointed  secretary  of  the  Detroit  Board  of  Trade  in  1860,  which 
appointment  he  held  for  nearly  13  years,  tendering  his  resignation  in  the 


184  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

As  the  chief  uttered  these  words,  an  Indian  presented  Henry 
with  a  pipe,  which,  after  he  had  drawn  the  smoke  three  times,  was 
carried  to  the  chief,  and  after  him  to  every  person  in  the  room. 
This  ceremony  ended,  the  chief  arose,  and  gave  Henry  his  hand, 
in  which  he  was  followed  by  all  the  rest.  Being  again  seated,  the 
chief  requested  that  his  young  men  might  be  allowed  to  taste,  what 
he  called  Henry's  English  milk  (meaning  rum),  observing  that  it 
was  long  since  they  had  tasted  any,  and  that  they  were  very  desi 
rous  to  know  whether  or  not  there  was  any  difference  between  the 
English  milk  and  the  French. 

Henry's  former  adventures  with  Indians  had  left  an  impression 
on  his  mind  which  made  him  tremble  when  Indians  asked  for  rum, 
and  he  would,  therefore,  have  willingly  excused  himself  in  this 
particular  ;  but,  being  informed  that  it  was  customary  to  comply 
with  the  request,  and,  withal,  satisfied  with  the  friendly  declara 
tions  which  he  had  received,  he  promised  to  give  them  a  small  cask 
at  parting.  After  this,  Henry,  by  the  aid  of  an  interpreter,  made 
a  reply  to  the  speech  of  the  chief,  declaring  that  it  was  the  good 
character,  which  had  been  reported  to  him,  of  the  Indians,  that 
had  emboldened  him  to  go  among  them ;  that  their  late  father, 
the  King  of  France,  had  surrendered  Canada  to  the  King  of  Eng 
land,  whom  they  ought  to  regard  now  as  their  father,  and  who 
would  be  as  careful  of  them  as  the  other  had  been. 

Henry  continued  his  speech  at  some  length,  and,  at  the  parting, 
distributed  a  small  quantity  of  rum  among  the  Indians. 

Henry  now  imagined  himself  free  from  cause  for  anxiety,  as  to 
the  treatment  which  he  was  to  receive  from  the  Indians.  He 
assorted  his  goods  which  he  had  taken  with  him,  and  hired  Cana 
dian  interpreters  and  clerks,  in  whose  care  he  was  to  send  them 
into  various  parts  of  the  country.  Everything  was  ready  for  their 
departure,  when  new  dangers  sprang  up  and  threatened  to  over 
whelm  him.  This  new  danger  came  from  a  village  of  the  Otta- 
was.  Nearly  everything  was  in  readiness  for  the  departure  of  the 
goods,  when  accounts  of  the  approach  of  two  hundred  warriors 

fall  of  1872,  having  been  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
county  clerk,  to  which  office  he  was  elected  in  November  of  the  same 
year. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


185 


was  received.  They  assembled  in  the  house  which  had  been  built 
for  the  commandant,  and  ordered  Henry's  attendance,  and  also 
that  of  the  other  merchants  who  had  already  joined  him  from 
Montreal,  viz :  Stanley  Godderd  and  Ezekiel  Solomons* 


HON.  GEORGE  H.  DURAND. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  one  of  the  prominent  and  well  known 
young  men  of  Michigan,  and  is  properly  classed  among  those  who,  with 
large  natural  gifts,  that  have  been  utilized  and  strengthened  by  con 
tinued  and  well  rewarded  labor,  have  done  so  much  to  give  character  to 
our  beautiful  peninsula,  and  whose  sterling  qualities  have  demanded 
and  received  esteem,  respect  and  acknowledgment.  Mr.  Durand  was 
born  at  Cobleskill,  Schoharie  county,  New  York,  in  1838.  His  educa 
tion  was  acquired  through  his  own  exertions  entirely,  his  vacations  being 


186  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

After  these  men  had  entered  the  council  room  and  taken  their 
seats,  one  of  the  chiefs  commenced  an  address,  which  he  concluded 
as  follows :  "  Englishmen,  we  see  your  canoes  ready  to  depart, 
and  find  your  men  engaged  for  the  Mississippi,  and  other  distant 
regions.  Under  these  circumstances,  we  have  considered  the  affair, 
and  you  are  now  sent  for  that  you  may  hear  our  determination, 
which  is,  that  you  shall  give  to  each  of  our  men,  young  and  old, 
merchandise  and  ammunition  to  the  amount  of  fifty  beaver  skins, 
on  credit,  and  for  which  I  have  no  doubt  of  their  paying  you  in 
the  summer,  on  their  return  from  the  wintering." 

A  compliance  with  this  demand  would  have  stripped  them  of 
nearly  all  their  resources.  They,  therefore,  tried  to  lessen  the 

employed  ia  earning  the  necessary  means  to  enable  him  to  prosecute  his 
studies.  He  removed  to  Michigan  in  1856,  and  like  many  of  our  promi 
nent  citizens,  Mr.  Durand,  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  this  State,  possessed 
neither  friends,  influence  or  wealth.  His  future  was  an  enigma  to  be 
solved  only  by  passing  years — to  be  solved,  not  by  impotent  resolve  nor 
errant  purpose,  but  by  that  strong  and  indefatigable  will,  which  overcomes 
difficulties  and  dangers,  and  which  is  certain  to  bring  to  the  man  of  intel 
lect  that  meed  of  success  which  is  the  test  of  merit. 

Very  soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law, 
and  after  pursuing  his  studies  with  great  diligence,  he  was  admitted  to 
to  the  bar  in  1858,  when  he  immediately  located  in  the  enterprising  city 
of  Flint,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  A  young  lawyer,  under  the 
most  favorable  auspices,  has  much  to  contend  with,  but  young  Durand, 
with  no  capital  and  no  friends  or  influence  at  Flint,  had  still  more  than 
is  usual  to  combat.  He  was  brought  in  professional  contact  with  such 
men  as  the  late  Hon.  Wm.  M.  Fenton,  Hon.  Wm.  Newton,  the  late  Hon. 
Levi  Walker  and  other  distinguished  lawyers,  whose  names  are  well 
known  in  the  best  legal  circles  of  the  State,  and  who  had  grown  gray  in 
the  arduous  labors  of  the  courts  ;  but  he  persisted,  and  by  his  courteous 
and  gentlemanly  manners,  his  clear  perception  and  great  good  judg 
ment,  he  gained  not  only  the  respect  of  his  brothers  in  the  profession  but 
also-  the  confidence  of  the  community,  and  his  future  as  a  lawyer  was 
thus  assured.  For  fifteen  years  Mr.  Durand  has  followed  his  profession, 
devoting  himself  to  it  with  much  earnestness  and  industry,  and  has 
acquired  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

With  politics  he  has  had  as  little  to  do  as  is  possible  for  a  man  of  his 
ardent  nature  and  his  clear  ideas  of  right  and  wrong.  His  sentiments, 
perhaps,  more  nearly  affiliate  with  the  Democracy  of  the  conservative 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  187 

demand  ;  but  was  informed  that  all  had  been  said  that  would  be 
said,  and  were  given  till  the  next  day  for  reflection.  The  assur 
ance  was  also  offered  them  that  if  the  demand  was  not  complied 
with,  their  goods  would  be  taken  by  force. 

They  then  retired  for  consultation.  In  the  evening,  Farley,  the 
interpreter,  informed  them  that  their  massacre  had  been  determined 
upon,  and  advised  them  to  accede  to  the  demand.  But  this  they 
determined  not  to  do,  as  they  suspected  the  interpreter  of  a  design 
to  prey  upon  their  fears,  and  drive  them  from  the  post.  They  then 
barricaded  their  house,  armed  about  thirty  of  their  followers,  and 
slept  upon  their  arms.  They  were  not  molested,  however,  but  the 
next  morning  were  summoned  to  another  council,  which  they 
refused  to  attend.  There  were  none  without  in  whom  they  had 

school  than  with  any  other  party,  still,  he  may  not  be  reckoned  as  a 
party  man  in  the  strictest  sense.  He  was  an  ardent  advocate  of  the  war 
for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion,  and  has  always  been  eminently 
patriotic  in  his  views.  Although  preferring  to  remain  in  private  life, 
attending  to  the  ordinary  duties  of  his  profession,  his  ability  and  counsel 
have  been  sought  after  in  other  capacities,  and,  as  a  consequence,  he  has 
for  years  taken  an  active  and  leading  part  in  public  matters,  political  and 
otherwise,  in  his  section  of  the  State.  He  has  often  been  nominated  and 
frequently  elected  to  office,  always  running  largely  ahead  of  his  ticket, 
and  at  the  municipal  election  held  in  Flint,  in  April,  1873,  although  run 
ning  on  the  Democratic  ticket,  and  against  a  worthy  competitor,  he  was 
elected  mayor  of  that  strongly  republican  city  by  a  majority  greater  than 
was  ever  given  to  any  public  officer  in  that  place.  This  responsible  office 
he  now  holds,  as  well  as  that  of  D.  D.  G.  M.,  in  the  Masonic  fraternity, 
for  the  eighth  Masonic  district  of  Michigan.  In  all  of  his  official  posi 
tions  he  invariably  conducts  himself  with  moderation  and.good  judgment, 
while  his  advice  is  peculiarly  winning  and  convincing,  and  his  personal 
character  admirable.  Mr.  Durand,  although  but  thirty-five  years  of  age, 
has  made  for  himself  a  record  which  is  indeed  an  enviable  one,  and  what 
ever  of  prominence  or  success,  whether  in  his  profession  or  the  more 
liberal  pursuits,  whether  in  the  political  field  or  the  world  of  letters,  shall 
attend  him  in  the  future,  it  will  be,  as  in  the  past,  the  result  of  a  steady 
determination  on  his  part  to  do  whatever  he  undertakes  in  a  careful, 
painstaking  and  intelligent  manner,  united  with  a  special  gift  of  unusual 
ability,  whether  as  writer,  orator  or  counselor.  The  lesson  of  his  life 
may  be  easily  gathered  from  a  knowledge  of  its  character,  a  study  of  its 
purposes,  and  a  familiarity  with  its  accomplishments. 


188  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

any  confidence,  save  Campion.  From  him  they  learned,  from  time 
to  time,  whatever  was  rumored  among  the  Canadian  inhabitants 
as  to  the  designs  of  the  Ottawas,  and  from  him,  toward  sunset, 
they  received  the  gratifying  intelligence  that  a  detachment  of 
British  soldiers,  sent  to  garrison  Michilimaekinac,  was  distant  only 
five  miles,  and  would  enter  the  fort  early  the  next  morning. 
Near  at  hand,  however,  as  relief  was  reported  to  be,  their  anxiety 
could  not  but  be  great,  for  a  long  night  was  to  be  passed,  and  their 
fate  might  be  decided  before  the  next  morning.  To  increase  their 
apprehension,  about  midnight  they  were  informed  that  the  Ottawas 
were  holding  a  council,  at  which  no  white  man  was  permitted  to 
be  present,  Farley  alone  excepted  ;  and  him  they  suspected,  and 
afterwards  knew  to  be  their  greatest  enemy.  The  Englishmen, 
on  their  part,  remained  all  night  upon  the  alert ;  but  at  daybreak, 
to  their  surprise  and  joy,  they  saw  the  Ottawas  preparing  to  depart. 
By  sunrise,  not  a  man  of  them  was  left  in  the  fort.  The  inhabit 
ants,  who,  while  the  Ottawas  were  present,  had  avoided  all  con 
nection  with  these  Englishmen,  now  came  with  congratulations. 
They  related  that  the  Ottawas  had  proposed  to  them  that,  if  joined 
by  the  Canadians,  they  would  march  and  attack  the  troops,  which 
were  known  to  be  advancing  on  the  fort ;  and  they  added  that 
it  was  their  refusal  which  had  determined  the  Ottawas  to  depart. 

At  noon,  three  hundred  troops  of  the  Sixtieth  Regiment,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  Leslie,  marched  into  the  fort.  This 
arrival  dissipated  all  the  fears  the  Englishmen  had,  and  somewhat 
reversed  their  position  in  regard  to  the  French.  After  a  few  days, 
detachments  were  sent  into  the  Bay  des  Puans,  by  which  was  the 
route  to  the  Mississippi,  and  at  the  mouth  of  St.  Joseph,  which  led 
to  the  Illinois.  The  Indians  from  all  quarters  were  eager  to  pay 
their  respects  to  the  commandant ;  and  the  three  English  mer 
chants  dispatched  their  canoes,  though  it  was  late  in  the  season. 

We  will  now  leave  Michilimaekinac  to  notice  events  elsewhere, 
but  will  return  at  the  proper  point,  and  resume  our  account  of  the 
adventures  of  Mr.  Henry  and  his  associates,  of  which  the  most 
thrilling  part  is  yet  to  come.  Interwoven  with  this  narrative  will 
also  be  found  a  true  account  of  the  massacres  and  barbaric  wars 
in  and  around  this  northern  fort. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

HOSTILITY  BETWEEN  THE  INDIANS  AND  THE  ENGLISH  —  ITS  CAUSE 
EXPLAINED — THE  INDIANS  RISING  TO  DRIVE  THE  ENGLISH  FROM 
THE  COUNTRY— PONTIAC'S  MESSAGE— THE  COUNCIL  AND  SPEECH  IN 
WHICH  THE  CONSPIRACY  is  MATURED — THE  WAR. 

IT  MUST  not  be  supposed  that  the  hostility  between  the  Indians 
and  the  English  was  confined  to  Michilimackinac.  France  had 
scarcely  yielded  up  her  claim  to  the  country,  when  smothered 
murmurs  of  discontent  began  to  be  audible  among  the  Indian 
tribes  throughout  the  entire  Northwest.  In  every  wigwam  and 
hamlet  of  the  forest  a  deep-rooted  hatred  of  the  English  increased 
with  rapid  growth.  Nor  is  this  to  be  wrondered  at.  "  We  have 
seen  with  what  sagacious  policy,"  says  Parkman,  "  the  French  had 
labored  to  ingratiate  themselves  with  the  Indians ;  and  the 
slaughter  of  the  Monongahela,  with  the  horrible  devastation  of  the 
Western  frontier,  the  outrages  perpetrated  at  Oswego,  and  the 
massacre  at  Fort  William  Henry,  bore  witness  to  the  success  of 
their  efforts.  Even  the  Delawares  and  Shawanoes,  the  faithful 
allies  of  William  Penn,  had  at  length  been  seduced  by  their  blan 
dishments  ;  and  the  Iroquois,  the  ancient  enemies  of  Canada,  had 
half  forgotten  their  former  hostility,  and  well  nigh  taken  part 
against  the  British  colonists.  The  remote  nations  of  the  West  had 
also  joined  in  the  war,  descending  in  their  canoes  for  hundreds  of 
miles  to  fight  against,  the  enemies  of  France.  All  these  tribes 
entertained  towards  the  English  that  rancorous  enmity  which  an 
Indian  always  feels  against  them  to  whom  he  has  been  opposed  in 
war." 

It  would  seem  that,  under  these  circumstances,  the  English 
would  have  used  the  utmost  care  in  their  conduct  towards  the 
Indians.  But,  even  when  the  conflict  with  the  French  was  impend 
ing,  and  the  alliance  with  the  Indian  tribes  was  of  the  greatest 


190  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

importance,  they  treated  them  with  careless  indifference  and 
neglect  They  were  not  likely  to  adopt  a  different  course  now 
that  their  friendship  seemed  a  matter  of  no  consequence.  In 
truth,  the  intentions  of  the  English  were  soon  apparent.  The  fol 
lowing  paragraphs,  from  Parkman's  Conspiracy  of  Pontiac,  car 
ries  us  to  the  point  I  desire  to  reach  so  admirably,  that  I  will 
take  the  liberty  to  use  them  : 

"  In  the  zeal  for  retrenchment  which  prevailed  after  the  close 
of  hostilities,  the  presents  which  it  had  always  been  customary  to 
give  the  Indians,  at  stated  intervals,  were  either  withheld  alto 
gether,  or  doled  out  with  a  niggardly  hand ;  while,  to  make  the 
matter  worse,  the  agents  and  officers  of  the  government  often 
appropriated  the  presents  to  themselves,  and  afterwards  sold  them 
at  an  exorbitant  price  to  the  Indians.  When  the  French  had  pos 
session  of  these  remote  forts,  they  were  accustomed,  with  a  wise  lib 
erality,  to  supply  the  surrounding  Indians  with  guns,  ammunition 
and  clothing,  until  the  latter  had  forgotten  the  weapons  and  gar 
ments  of  their  forefathers,  and  depended  on  the  white  man  for 
support.  The  sudden  withholding  of  these  supplies  was,  there 
fore,  a  grievous  calamity.  Want,  suffering  and  death  were  the 
consequences ;  and  this  cause  alone  would  have  been  enough  to 
produce  general  discontent.  But,  unhappily,  other  grievances 
were  added.  The  English  fur  trade  had  never  been  well  regu 
lated,  and  it  was  now  in  a  worse  condition  than  ever.  Many  of 
the  traders  and  those  in  their  employ  were  ruffians  of  the  coarsest 
stamp,  who  vied  with  each  other  in  rapacity,  violence  and  profli 
gacy.  They  cheated,  cursed  and  plundered  the  Indians,  and  out 
raged  their  families;  offering,  when  compared  with  the  French 
traders,  who  were  under  better  regulation,  a  most  unfavorable 
example  of  the  character  of  their  nation.  The  officers  and  sol 
diers  of  the  garrison  did  their  full  part  in  exciting  the  general 
resentment.  Formerly,  when  the  warriors  came  to  the  forts,  they 
had  been  welcomed  by  the  French  with  attention  and  respect. 
The  inconvenience  which  their  presence  occasioned  had  been  dis 
regarded,  and  their  peculiarities  overlooked,  but  now  they  were 
received  with  cold  looks  and  harsh  words  by  the  officers ;  and, 
as  we  have  already  noticed,  at  Michilimackinac,  which,  as  we  now 


192  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   STATES. 

observe,  was  no  exception  to  the  general  rule  of  the  whole  western 
country,  with  oaths  and  ofttimes  blows  from  the  more  reckless  of 
the  garrison.  When,  after  their  troublesome  and  intrusive  fash 
ion,  they  were  lounging  everywhere  about  the  fort,  or  lazily  reclin 
ing  in  the  shadow  of  the  walls,  they  were  met  with  muttered  ejac 
ulations  of  impatience,  or  abrupt  orders  to  be  gone,  enforced, 
perhaps,  by  a  touch  from  the  butt  of  a  sentinel's  musket.  These 
marks  of  contempt  were  unspeakably  galling  to  their  haughty 
spirit." 

But  what  most  contributed  to  the  growing  discontent  of  the 
tribes  was  the  intrusion  of  settlers  upon  their  lands,  which  was  at 
all  times  a  fruitful  source  of  Indian  hostility.  Its  effects,  it  is 
true,  could  only  be  felt  by  those  whose  country  bordered  upon  the 
English  settlements ;  but  among  these  were  the  most  powerful  and 
influential  of  the  tribes.  The  discontent  of  the  Indians  gave 
great  satisfaction  to  the  French,  who  saw  in  it  an  assurance  of  safe 
and  bloody  vengeance  on  their  conquerors.  Canada,  it  is  true, 
was  gone  beyond  the  hope  of  recovery ;  but  they  still  might  hope 
to  revenge  its  loss.  Interest,  moreover,  as  well  as  passion, 
prompted  them  to  inflame  the  resentment  of  the  Indians  ;  for 
most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  French  settlements  upon  the  lakes 
and  the  Mississippi  were  engaged  in  the  fur  trade,  and,  fearing  the 
English  as  formidable  rivals,  they  would  gladly  have  seen  them 
driven  from  the  country.  Traders  and  all  classes  of  this  singular 
population  accordingly  dispersed  themselves  among  the  villages  of 
the  Indians,  or  held  councils  with  them  in  the  secret  places  of 
the  woods,  urging  them  to  take  up  arms  against  the  English. 
They  exhibited  the  conduct  of  the  latter  in  its  worst  light,  and 
spared  neither  misrepresentation  nor  falsehood. 

It  is  difficult  to  determine  which  tribe  was  the  first  to  raise  the 
cry  of  war.  There  were  many  who  might  have  done  so,  for  all 
the  savages  in  the  backwoods  were  ripe  for  an  outbreak,  and  the 
movement  seemed  almost  simultaneous.  The  Delawares  and  Sene- 
cas  were  the  most  incensed,  and  Kiashuta,  chief  of  the  latter,  was, 
perhaps,  foremost.  It,  however,  required  a  greater  chief  than  he 
to  give  method  and  order  to  what  would  else  have  been  a  wild 
burst  of  fury.  But  for  Pontiac,  the  whole  might  have  ended  in  a 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


193 


few  troublesome  inroads  upon  the  frontier,  and  a  little  whooping 
and  yelling  under  the  walls  of  Fort  Pitt. 

There  has  been  some  dispute  as  to  the  nationality  of  Pontiac. 
Some  hold  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  tribe  of  the  Sacs  or  Loa- 


F.   G.  RUSSELL. 

FRANK  G.  RUSSELL,  the  present  city  attorney  of  Detroit,  was  born  in 
Green  Oak,  Livingston  county,  Michigan,  in  April,  1837.  His  father  was 
a  farmer,  and  Mr.  Russell  spent  his  youth  at  home,  assisting  in  agricul 
tural  pursuits.  He  had  all  the  advantages  of  a  common  school,  and  was 
at  an  early  age  sent  to  the  State  Normal  School,  at  which  institution  he 
graduated  in  the  spring  of  1858.  He  was  principal  of  the  Lansing  Union 
School  from  the  autumn  of  1858  to  the  spring  of  1861,  when  he  resigned 
the  position  to  accept  a  situation  in  the  Interior  Department  at  Washing- 
13 


194  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

kies,  but  by  far  the  greater  number  have  placed  him  among  the 
Ottawas.  .His  home  was  about  eight  miles  above  Detroit,  on 
Pechee  Island,  which  looks  out  upon  the  waters  of  Lake  St.  Glair. 
His  form  was  cast  in  the  finest  mould  of  savage  grace  and  strength, 
and  his  eye  seemed  capable  of  penetrating,  at  a  glance,  the  secret 
motives  that  actuated  the  savage  tribes  around  him.  His  rare 
personal  qualities,  his  courage,  resolution,  wisdom,  address  and 
eloquence,  together  with  the  hereditary  claim  to  authority  which, 
according  to  Indian  custom,  he  possessed,  secured  for  him  the 
esteem  of  both  the  French  and  the  English,  and  gave  him  an 
influence  among  the  lake  tribes  greater  than  that  of  any  other 
individual.  Early  in  life  he  distinguished  himself  as  a  chieftain 
of  no  ordinary  ability.  In  1746  he  commanded  a  powerful  body 
of  Indians,  mostly  Ottawas,  who  gallantly  defended  the  people  of 
Detroit  against  the  formidable  attack  of  several  combined  north 
ern  tribes,  and  it  is  supposed  that  he  was  present  at  the  disastrous 
defeat  of  Braddock,  in  which  several  hundred  of  his  warriors  were 
engaged.  He  had  always,  at  least  up  to  the  time  when  Major 
Rogers  came  into  the  country,  been  a  firm  friend  of  the  French, 
and  received  many  marks  of  esteem  from  the  French  officer,  Mar 
quis  de  Montcalm. 

How  could  he,  then,  the  bravest  chief  of  the  great  West,  do 

ton,  D.  C.  He  was  engaged  in  the  last  mentioned  capacity,  principally 
as  examiner  of  pension  claims,  from  the  spring  of  1861  to  the  summer  of 
1864,  when  he  resigned  and  came  to  Detroit.  He  was  successfully 
engaged  at  the  latter  place  for  two  years  in  the  prosecution  of  war  claims, 
and  in  1866  returned  to  his  home  in  Green  Oak,  and  assumed  charge  of 
his  father's  farm,  remaining  there  until  the  autumn  of  1867,  when  he 
returned  to  Detroit,  and  commenced  the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  the  Supreme  Court  in  October,  1868,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  in  the  following  spring. 

In  the  practice  of  law,  Mr.  Russell  has  met  with  substantial  success. 
Being  favorably  known  in  the  whole  State,  both  for  ability  and  integrity, 
he  immediately  came  into  public  favor,  and  has  found  unceasing  demand 
for  his  professional  labors.  In  the  spring  of  1869  he  was  appointed  pri 
vate  secretary  to  Governor  H.  P.  Baldwin,  holding  this  position  till  the 
inauguration  of  Governor  Bagley,  January  1,  1873.  He  was  elected  city 
attorney  of  Detroit  in  1871. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  195 

otherwise  than  dispute  the  English  claim  to  his  country  ?  How 
could  he  endure  the  sight  of  this  people  driving  the  game  from 
his  hunting  grounds,  and  his  friends  and  allies  from  the  lands 
they  had  so  long  possessed?  When  he  heard  that  Rogers  was 
advancing  along  the  lakes  to  take  possession  of  his  country,  his 
indignation  knew  no  bounds,  and  he  at  once  sent  deputies,  request 
ing  him  to  halt  until  such  time  as  he  could  see  him.  Flattering 
words  and  fair  promises  induced  him,  at  length,  to  extend  the 
hand  of  friendship  to  Rogers.  He  was  inclined  to  live  peaceably 
with  the  English,  and  to  encourage  their  settling  in  the  country, 
as  long  as  they  treated  him  as  he  deserved ;  but  if  they  treated 
him  with  neglect,  he  would  shut  up  the  way  and  exclude  them 
from  it.  He  did  not  consider  himself  a  conquered  prince,  but  he 
expected  to  be  treated  with  the  respect  and  honor  due  to  a  king. 
While  a  system  of  good  management  might  have  allayed 
every  suspicion,  and  engendered  peace  and  good-will,  a  want  of 
cordiality  increased  the  discontent,  and  Pontiac  soon  saw  that  the 
fair  promises  which  had  been  made  him  were  but  idle  words.  The 
Indians  were  becoming  more  and  more  dissatisfied,  and  he  began 
seriously  to  apprehend  danger  from  the  new  government  and  peo 
ple.  He  saw  in  the  English  a  boundless  ambition  to  possess  them 
selves  of  every  military  position  on  the  northern  waters,  an 
ambition  which  plainly  indicated  to  his  far-reaching  sagacity  that 
soon,  nothing  less  than  undisputed  possession  of  all  his  vast 
domain  would  satisfy  them.  He  saw  in  them  a  people  superior  in 
arms,  but  utterly  destitute  of  that  ostensible  cordiality,  personally, 
to  which  his  people  had  been  accustomed  during  the  golden  age 
of  French  dominion,  and  which  they  were  apt  to  regard  as  neces 
sary  indications  of  good  faith.  There  seemed  no  disposition  for 
national  courtesy,  individual  intercourse,  or  beneficial  commerce 
of  any  kind.  All  those  circumstances  which  made  the  neighbor 
hood  of  the  French  agreeable,  and  which  might  have  made  their 
own  at  least  tolerable,  they  neglected.  Their  conduct  never  gave 
rest  to  suspicion,  while  that  of  the  French  never  gave  rise  to  it. 
Hence,  the  Indians  felt  that  they  had  "  no  father  among  the  white 
men  but  the  King  of  France,"  and  Pontiac  resolved,  as  he  had 
threatened,  to  "  shut  up  the  way."  His  plan  was  to  make  a  con- 


196  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

temporaneous  assault  upon  all  the  British  posts,  and  thus  effec 
tually  extinguish  the  English  power  at  a  single  blow.  This  was 
a  stroke  of  policy  that  evinced  an  extraordinary  genius,  and 
demanded  for  its  successful  execution  an  energy  and  courage  of  the 
highest  order.  But  Pontiac  was  fully  equal  to  the  task.  He  was 
as  skillful  in  executing  as  he  was  bold  in  planning.  He  knew  that 
success  would  multiply  friends  and  allies,  but  friends  and  allies 
were  necessary  to  insure  success. 

First,  then,  a  council  must  be  called,  and,  for  this,  purpose,  at 
the  close  of  1762,  he  sent  out  his  ambassadors  to  all  the  different 
nations.  With  the  war-belt  of  wampum,  and  the  tomahawk, 
stained  red  in  token  of  war,  these  swift-footed  messengers  went 
from  camp  to  camp,  and  from  village  to  village,  throughout  the 
north,  south,  east  and  west,  and  in  whatever  tribe  they  appeared, 
the  sachems  assembled  to  hear  the  words  of  Pontiac.  The  mes 
sage  was  everywhere  heard  with  approbation,  the  war-belt  accepted, 
and  the  hatchet  seized,  as  an  indication  that  the  assembled  chiefs 
stood  pledged  to  take  part  in  the  war. 

The  Grand  Council  assembled  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of 
April,  1763,  on  the  banks  of  the  little  river  Ecorse,  not  far  from 
Detroit.  The  pipe  went  round,  and  Pontiac  stepped  forth,  plumed 
and  painted  in  the  full  costume  of  war.  He  called  into  requisi 
tion  all  the  eloquence  and  cunning  of  which  he  was  master.  He 
appealed  to  their  fears,  their  hopes,  their  ambition,  their  cupidity, 
their  hatred  of  the  English,  and  "their  love  for  their  old  friends, 
the  French.  He  displayed  to  them  a  belt,  which  he  said  the 
King  of  France  had  sent  him,  urging  him  to  drive  the  English 
from  the  country,  and  open  the  way  for  the  return  of  the  French. 
He  painted  in  glowing  colors  the  common  interests  of  their  race, 
and  called  upon  them  to  make  a  stand  against  a  common  foe.  He 
told  them  of  a  dream,  in  which  the  Great  Manitou  had  appeared 
to  a  chief  of  the  Abenakis,  saying :  "  I  am  the  Maker  of  heaven 
and  earth,  the  trees,  lakes,  rivers,  and  all  things  else.  I  am  the 
Maker  of  mankind ;  and  because  I  love  you,  you  must  do  my  will. 
The  land  on  which  you  live  I  have  made  for  you,  and  not  for 
others.  Why  do  you  suffer  the  white  man  to  dwell  among  you  ? 
My  children,  you  have  forgotten  the  customs  and  traditions  of 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


197 


your  forefathers.  Why  do  you  not  clothe  yourselves  in  skins,  as 
they  did,  and  use  the  bows  and  arrows,  and  the  stone-pointed 
lances  which  they  used  ?  You  have  bought  guns,  knives,  kettles, 
and  blankets  from  the  white  men,  until  you  can  no  longer  do  with- 


HON.  A.  F.  R.  BRALEY. 

ALFRED  F.  R.  BRALEY,  of  Saginaw  City,  was  born  October  20,  1828, 
at  Albion,  Orleans  county,  N.  Y.  He  received  an  academic  education  at 
his  native  place,  and  studied  law  four  years  with  Church  &  Davis,  who 
have  a  national  reputation  as  jurists.  He  attended  lectures  at  the  Albany 
Law  School,  and  at  a  general  term  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  Albany,  in 
1852,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  he 
commenced  practice  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  Ill  health  induced  him  to  spend 
the  winter  of  1853-4  in  the  South,  and  suspended  his  labors  for  a  period 
of  five  years.  He  returned  discouraged  to  Albion.  He  was  justice  of 


198  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE  STATES. 

out  them ;  and,  what  is  worse,  you  have  drunk  the  poison  fire 
water  which  turns  you  into  fools.  Fling  all  these  things  away  ; 
live  as  your  wise  forefathers  lived  before  you ;  and,  as  for  these 
English — these  dogs  dressed  in  red,  who  have  coine  to  rob  you  of 
your  hunting  grounds  and  drive  away  the  game — you  must  lift  the 
hatchet  against  them.  Wipe  them  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and 
then  you  will  win  my  favor  back  again,  and  once  more  be  happy 
and  prosperous.  The  children  of  your  great  father,  the  King  of 
France,  are  not  like  the  English.  Never  forget  that  they  are 
your  brothers.  They  are  very  dear  to«  me,  for  they  love  the  red 
men,  and  understand  the  true  mode  of  worshiping  me." 

Such  an  appeal  to  the  passions  and  prejudices  of  credulous  and 
excited  savages  was  well  calculated  to  produce  the  desired  effect. 
If  the  Great  Spirit  was  with  them,  it  was  impossible  to  fail. 
Other  speeches  were  doubtless  made,  and,  before  the  council  broke 
up,  the  scheme  was  well  matured. 

Thus  was  the  crisis  hastening  on.  While  every  principle  of 
revenge,  ambition  and  patriotism  in  the  savage  was  thus  being 
roused  up  to  the  '^highest  pitch,  and  the  tomahawk  was  already 
lifted  for  the  blow,  scarce  a  suspicion  of  the  savage  design  found 
its  way  to  the  minds  of  the  English.  Occasionally,  an  English 
trader  would  see  something  in  their  behavior  which  caused  him  to 
suspect  mischief,  or  some  scoundrel  half-breed  would  be  heard 

the  peace  there  from  1859  to  the  spring  of  1862,  when  he  came  to  the 
City  of  Saginaw.  Here  his  health  being  reestablished,  he  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  salt  until  1866.  He  then  opened  a  private  banking  office 
in  company  with  Harry  and  Wm.  M.  Miller,  under  the  name  of  Miller, 
Braley  &  Co.  They  did  a  successful  business  until  their  concern  was 
merged  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Saginaw,  of  which  Mr.  B.  has 
since  been  the  cashier. 

He  has  served  two  terms  as  recorder  of  the  city  of  Saginaw,  and  three 
terms  as  mayor. 

He  is  a  gentleman  of  excellent  business  qualifications;  he  is  honest  and 
universally  recognized  as  honest.  Socially  he  is  popular  and  entertaining. 
He  is  a  good  listener  and  a  good  talker;  he  can  tell  a  good  story,  and 
when  he  does  relate  an  anecdote,  the  moral  is  apparent,  and  the  listener 
knows  where  the  "laugh  comes  in."  No  man  in  Saginaw  has  more 
friends. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  199 

boasting  that,  before  the  next  summer,  he  would  have  English 
hair  to  fringe  his  hunting  frock  ;  but  these  things  caused  no  alarm. 
Once,  however,  the  plot  was  nearly  discovered.  A  friendly  Indian 
told  the  commander  of  Fort  Miami  that  a  war-belt  had  been  sent 
to  the  warriors  of  a  neighboring  village,  and  that  the  destruction 
of  himself  and  garrison  had  been  resolved  upon ;  but,  when 
information  of  this  had  been  conveyed  to  Major  Gladwyn,  of 
Detroit,  that  officer  wrote  to  General  Amherst,  stating  that,  in  his 
opinion,  there  had  been  some  irritation  among  the  Indians,  but 
that  the  affair  would  soon  blow  over  ;  and  that,  in  the  neighbor 
hood  of  his  own  fort  all  was  tranquil.  Amherst  thought  that  the 
acts  of  the  Indians  were  unwarrantable,  and  hoped  they  would  be 
too  sensible  to  their  own  interests  to  conspire  against  the  English  ; 
he  wished  them  to  know  that  if  they  did,  in  his  opinion,  they 
would  make  a  "  contemptible  figure."  He  asserted  that  they 
would  be  the  sufferers,  and,  in  the  end,  it  would  result  in  their 
destruction. 

But  the  English  were  deluded.  Almost  within  rifle-shot  of 
Gladwyn's  quarters  was  Pontiac,  the  arch-enemy  of  the  English 
and  the  prime  mover  in  the  plot,  and  the  sequel  proved  how  "  con 
temptible  "  was  the  figure  which  the  savages  made. 

The  work  of  extirpation  soon  began,  and  extended  from  north 
to  south,  and  from  east  to  west.  Numbers  of  English  traders,  on 
their  way  from  all  quarters  of  the  country  to  the  different  posts, 
were  taken,  and  their  goods  made  the  prize  of  the  conquerors. 
Large  bodies  of  savages  were  seen  collecting  around  the  different 
forts ;  yet,  strange  to  say,  without  creating  any  serious  alarm. 
When  the  blow  was  struck,  nine  out  of  twelve  of  the  British  posts 
were  surprised  and  destroyed  !  It  will,  doubtless,  be  interesting  to 
notice  in  detail  these  surprises,  three  of  which  properly  come 
within  the  scope  of  the  History  of  Michigan. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


MICHILIMACKINAC  —  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PLACE  IN  1762 — ASSEMBLING 
OF  HOSTILE  INDIANS  AROUND  MICHILIMACKINAC  —  ADVENTURES  OF 
AN  ENGLISH  TRADER  —  THE  INDIANS  PREPARING  FOR  THE  MASSA 
CRE — THE  GAME  OF  BALL  COMMENCED. 

BEFORE  entering  upon  an  account  of  the  massacre  at  Fort 
Michilimackinac,  we  may,  perhaps,  entertain  the  reader  with  a 
short  description  of  the  place  as  it  appeared  just  before  the  war 
broke  out,  in  the  spring  of  1763. 

Michilimackinac  was  the  most  northern  English  port  in  the 
lake  region.  It  was  located  on  the  extreme  northern  point  of  the 
Southern  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  on  the  site  of  the  present  city 
of  Mackinaw.  The  fort  stood  near  the  water's  edge,  and  near  by 
was  a  cluster  of  white  Canadian  houses,  roofed  with  bark,  and 
protected  by  fences  of  strong  round  pickets.  As  the  visitor 
entered  the  gate  of  the  fort  he  could  see  before  him  an  extensive 
square  area,  surrounded  by  high  palisades.  Numerous  houses, 
barracks,  and  other  buildings,  formed  a  smaller  square  within, 
and  in  the  vacant  space  which  they  inclosed,  appeared  the  red 
uniforms  of  British  soldiers,  the  gray  coats  of  Canadians,  and  the 
gaudy  Indian  blankets,  mingled  in  picturesque  confusion,  while  a 
multitude  of  squaws,  with  children  of  every  hue,  strolled  rest 
lessly  about  the  place.  Such  was  Fort  Michilimackinac  in  1763. 
Though  buried  in  the  wilderness,  it  was  still  of  no  recent  origin. 
As  early  as  1671  the  Jesuits  had  established  a  mission  of  the  same 
name  on  the  northern  side  of  the  strait,  and  a  military  force  was 
not  long  in  following,  for,  under  the  French  dominion,  the  priest 
and  the  soldier  went  hand  in  hand.  Neither  toil,  nor  suffering, 
nor  all  the  terrors  of  the  wilderness,  could  damp  the  zeal  of  the 
undaunted  missionary ;  and  the  restless  ambition  of  France  was 
always  on  the  alert  to  seize  every  point  of  advantage,  and  avail 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


201 


itself  of  every  means  to  gain  ascendency  over  the  forest  tribes. 
Besides  Michiliniackinac  there  were  two  other  posts  in  the  north 
ern  region,  Green  Bay  and  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  Both  were  founded 
at  an  early  period,  and  both  presented  the  same  characteristic 


DR.  EDWARD    W.  JENKS. 

EDWARD  W.  JENKS,  one  of  the  leading  medical  professors  of  the  State, 
was  born  in*  the  town  of  Victor,  Ontario  county,  New  York,  in  1833, 
where  his  father  was  a  prominent  business  man  at  that  time.  In  1843, 
he,  with  his  father,  emigrated  to  Indiana,  where  the  latter  gentleman 
founded  a  town  called  Ontario,  and  endowed  a  collegiate  institute  called 
La  Grange  College. 

The  principal  part  of  Dr.  Jenks'  earlier  years  was  passed  in  New  York 
and  Indiana,  where  he  received  his  general  education.  His  medical 
training  was  pursued  at  the  Medical  University  of  New  York,  until  ill 


202  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

features — a  mission  house,  a  fort,  and  a  cluster  of  Canadian  dwel 
lings.  They  had  been  originally  garrisoned  by  small  parties  of 
militia,  who,  bringing  their  families  with  them,  settled  on  the  spot, 
and  were  the  founders  of  these  little  colonies.  Michilimackinac, 
much  the  largest  of  the  three,  contained  thirty  families  within  the 
palisades  of  the  fort,  and  about  as  many  more  without.  Besides 
its  military  value,  it  was  important  as  the  center  of  the  fur  trade, 
for  it  was  here  that  the  traders  engaged  their  men,  and  sent  out 
their  goods  in  canoes,  under  the  charge  of  subordinates,  to  the 
more  distant  regions  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Northwest. 

The  Indians  near  Michilimackinac  were  the  Ojibwas  and  Otta- 
was,  the  former  of  whom  claimed  the  eastern  section  of  Michigan, 
and  the  latter  the  western ;  their  respective  portions  being  sepa 
rated  by  a  line  drawn  southward  from  the  fort  itself.  The  princi 
pal  village  of  the  Ojibwas  contained  about  a  hundred  warriors, 
and  stood  on  the  island  of  Michilimackinac,  now  called  Mack 
inaw.  There  was  another  smaller  village  near  the  head  of  Thun 
der  Bay.  The  Ottawas,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 
warriors,  lived  at  the  settlement  of  L'Arbre  Croche,  on  the  shores 
of  Lake  Michigan,  some  distance  southward  from  the  fort.  This 

health  compelled  him  to  make  a  change,  when  he  went  to  Ver 
mont,  graduating  from  Castleton  Medical  College  in  1855.  Dr.  Jenks, 
however,  was  determined  to  be  proficient  in  his  profession,  and  after 
wards  took  an  additional  degree  of  medicine  at  Bellevue  Hospital 
Medical  College.  After  receiving  this  last  degree,  Dr.  Jenks  practiced 
medicine  very  successfully  in  New  York  and  Indiana,  where  he  made 
numerous  professional  friends.  About  this  time,  his  health  again  failed, 
and  his  sufferings  were  such  as  compelled  him  to  constantly  change 
climate  in  order  to  retain  his  already  shattered  health.  He,  however, 
practiced  his  profession  wherever  his  health  permitted  him  to  remain 
long  enough,  until  1864,  when  he  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Detroit. 
In  that  city  he  at  once  acquired  an  extensive  practice,  and  he  has  ever 
since  been  known  throughout  this  State  and  those  adjoining,  for  his 
remarkable  success  in  the  treatment  of  difficult  diseases. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders,  in  1868,  of  the  Detroit  Medical  College, 
and  has  occupied  the  presidency  in  that  institution  since  its  organization, 
and  besides  holds  the  honorable  position  of  Professor  of  Medical  and 
Surgical  Diseases  of  Women  and  Clinical  Gynascology.  He  has  worked 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  203 

place  was  then  the  seat  of  the  old  Jesuit  mission  of  St.  Ignace, 
originally  placed  by  Father  Marquette  on  the  northern  side  of  the 
straits.  Many  of  the  Ottawas  were  nominal  Catholics.  They 
were  all  somewhat  improved  from  their  original  savage  condition, 
living  in  log  houses,  and  cultivating  corn  and  vegetables,  to  such 
an  extent  as  to  supply  the  fort  with  provisions  besides  satisfying 
their  own  wants.  The  O jib  was,  on  the  other  hand,  were  not  in 
the  least  degree  removed  from  their  primitive  barbarism. 

At  this  time  both  these  tribes  had  received  from  Pontiac  the 
war  belt  of  black  and  purple  wampum,  and  painted  hatchet,  and 
had  pledged  themselves  to  join  in  the  contest.  Before  the  end  of 
May  the  Ojibwas,  or  Chippewas,  received  word  that  the  blow  had 
already  been  struck  at  Detroit,  and,  wrought  up  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  excitement  and  emulation,  resolved  that  peace  should 
last  no  longer.  Eager  to  reap  all  the  glory  of  the  victory,  or 
prompted  by  jealousy,  this  tribe  neither  communicated  to  the 
Ottawas  the  news  which  had  come  to  them,  nor  their  own  resolu 
tion  to  make  an  immediate  assault  upon  Michilimackinac ;  hence, 
the  Ottawas,  as  we  shall  presently  learn,  had  no  part  in  that 
most  bloody  tragedy.  There  were  other  tribes,  however,  who, 

with  no  ordinary  amount  of  zeal  to  make  the  Detroit  Medical  College  one 
of  the  leading  institutions  of  that  kind  in  the  West,  and  the  success  of  his 
efforts  is  shown  in  the  very  flattering  report  made  by  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  State  Medical  Society  to  examine  into  its  condition. 
He  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the  department  of  diseases  of  women  at 
St.  Mary's  Hospital  in  1868.  He  was  connected  with  Harper  Hospital 
from  its  organization  until  1872,  when  he  resigned.  Dr.  Jenks  ranks 
high  as  a  surgeon  in  the  Northwest,  being  called  to  practice  this  branch 
of  his  profession  over  a  large  extent  of  territory.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  numerous  medical  societies,  being  Professor  of  Medical  and 
Surgical  Diseases  of  Women  in  Bowdoin  College;  a  member  of  the  Ameri 
can  Medical  Association;  corresponding  member  of  the  Gynaecological 
Society;  President  of  the  Detroit  Academy  of  Medicine;  an  active  mem 
ber  and  President  of  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  a  member  of  a  num 
ber  of  other  institutions. 

Dr.  Jenks  was  one  of  the  original  publishers  of  the  Detroit  Eemew  of 
Medicine  and  Pharmacy,  filling  the  position  of  editor  on  that  magazine  for 
some  time  with  marked  ability. 


204  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

attracted  by  rumors  of  impending  war,  had  gathered  at  Michili- 
mackinac,  and  who  took  part  in  the  struggle. 

We  will  now  return  to  the  Englishman,  Mr.  Henry,  whom  we 
left  at  Michilimackinac,  at  the  close  of  the  previous  chapter,  and 
relate  his  adventures  simultaneously  with  an  account  of  the  mas 
sacre. 

The  British  having  taken  possession  of  the  fort,  Henry's  fears 
were  entirely  dispersed,  and  he  spent  the  winter  at  Michilimack 
inac,  amusing  himself  as  best  he  could  by  hunting  and  fishing. 
But  few  of  the  Indians,  he  tells  us,  came  to  the  fort,  excepting 
two  families.  These  families  lived  on  a  river  five  leagues  below, 
and  came  occasionally  with  beaver  flesh  for  sale.  Their  chief  was 
an  exception  to  the  rule,  for  instead  of  being  hostile  towards  the 
English,  he  was  warmly  attached  to  them.  But,  in  this  case,  the 
exception  proved  the  rule  to  a  demonstration.  He  had  been  taken 
prisoner  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  at  the  siege  of  Fort  Niagara ; 
and  had  received  from  that  intelligent  officer,  his  liberty,  the 
medal  usually  presented  to  a  chief,  and  the  British  flag.  Won  by 
these  acts  of  unexpected  kindness,  he  had  returned  to  Michili- 
mackiuac,  full  of  praise  of  the  English,  and  hoisted  his  flag 
over  his  lodge.  This  latter  demonstration  of  his  partiality  nearly 
cost  him  his  life ;  his  lodge  was  broken  down,  and  his  flag  torn 
to  pieces.  The  pieces  he  carefully  gathered  up  and  preserved 
with  pious  care,  and  whenever  he  visited  the  fort  he  drew  them 
out  and  exhibited  them.  On  these  occasions  it  grew  into  a  custom 
to  give  him  as  much  liquor  as  he  said  was  necessary  to  make  him 
cry  over  the  misfortune  of  losing  his  flag.  The  commandant 
would  have  given  him  another,  but  he  thought  he  could  not 
accept  it  without  danger. 

Upon  the  opening  of  navigation,  Mr.  Henry  left  Michilimack 
inac  to  visit  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie.  Here  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  M.  Cadotte,  an  interpreter,  whose  wife  was  a  Chippewa,  and, 
desirous  of  learning  that  language,  he  decided  to  spend  the  suc 
ceeding  winter  in  the  family  of  his  new  found  friend.  Here,  also, 
there  was  a  small  fort,  and  during  the  summer,  a  small  detach 
ment  of  troops,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Jamette, 
arrived  to  garrison  it.  Late  in  the  fall,  however,  a  destructive 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


205 


fire,  which  consumed  all  the  houses  except  Cadotte's,  and  all  the 
fort  supplies,  made  it  necessary  to  send  the  garrison  back  to 
Michilimackinac.  The  few  that  were  left  at  this  place  were  now 
crowded  into  one  small  house,  and  compelled  to  gain  a  subsistence 


HON.  SAMUEL  D.  PACE. 

SAMUEL  D.  PACE,  of  Port  Huron,  Mich.,  was  born  in  the  township  of 
Yarmouth,  Canada  West,  April  29,  1835.  His  father,  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey.  His  mother  was  a 
descendant  of  a  New  England  family. 

During  the  winter  months  of  his  early  boyhood,  he  attended  the  dis 
trict  school  in  the  neighborhood  where  he  was  born,  and  in  the  summer 
season  he  was  principally  engaged  with  his  father  working  as  a  carpenter. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Kacine,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  shipped  as  a  sailor  on  the  schooner  Amelia.  He  followed  a 


206  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES 

by  hunting  and  fishing.  Thus  inuring  themselves  to  hard 
ships,  a  very  good  opportunity  was  afforded  them  of  becoming 
familiar  with  the  Chippewa  tongue.  Here  Henry  passed  the 
second  winter  of  his  sojourn  in  the  wilderness  of  the  upper  lakes. 
Early  in  the  succeeding  spring,  1763,  he  was  visited  by  Sir  Robert 
Dover,  an  English  gentleman,  who  was  on  a  "  voyage  of  curios 
ity,"  and  with  whom  Henry  again  returned  to  Michilimackinac. 
Here  he  intended  to  remain  until  his  clerks  should  come  from  the 
interior,  and  then  go  back  to  the  Sault. 

When  Henry  reached  Michilimackinac  he  found  several  other 
traders  who  had  arrived  before  him,  from  different  parts  of  the 
country,  and  who,  in  general,  declared  the  dispositions  of  the 
Indians  to  be  hostile  to  the  English,  and  even  apprehended  some 
attack.  One  M.  Laurent  Ducharme  distinctly  informed  Major 
Ethrington  that  a  plan  was  absolutely  conceived  for  destroying 
him,  his  garrison,  and  all  the  English  in  the  upper  country ;  but 
the  commandant  believing  this  and  other  reports  to  be  without 
foundation,  proceeding  only  from  idle  or  ill-disposed  persons,  and 
of  a  tendency  to  do  mischief,  expressed  much  displeasure  against 
M.  Ducharme,  and  threatened  to  send  the  next  person  who  should 

sailor's  life  for  two  years  on  the  lakes,  and  in  the  month  of  November, 
1852,  while  on  board  the  sloop  Ranger,  was  shipwrecked  on  Lake 
Michigan,  a  short  distance  south  of  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin.  The  vessel, 
after  being  tossed  about  three  days  and  nights  without  rudder  or  sail, 
stranded  and  became  a  total  loss.  During  this  time  he  suffered  intensely 
from  hunger  and  cold.  His  wardrobe,  by  no  means  extensive,  was 
materially  diminished  by  this  misfortune,  as  most  of  his  personal  effects 
shared  the  fate  of  the  vessel,  and  he  found  himself  on  the  streets  of  Mil 
waukee  without  hat,  boots  or  coat.  His  loss  in  this  respect,  however, 
was  more  than  made  good  by  a  kind-hearted  Jew,  who  took  pity  on  the 
shivering  sailor  boy,  and  presented  him  with  substitutes  for  the  garments 
he  had  lost,  making  the  characteristic  remark,  "Dese  cost  you  netting." 
It  may  be  mentioned  as  a  coincidence  that  at  the  time,  Mr.  Pace  had  just 
exactly  nothing  with  which  to  pay  for  them. 

At  school,  he  was  invariably  at  the  head  of  his  class,  and  he  also  took 
the  lead  in  most  kinds  of  boyish  mischief.  As  a  school  boy,  he  mani 
fested  a  determination  to  succeed,  which  trait  has  never  since  left  him. 
Although  married  at  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he  has  never  ceased  to  be 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  207 

bring  a  story  of  the  same  kind  a  prisoner  to  Detroit.  The  garri 
son  consisted  at  this  time  of  thirty-five  men  with  their  officers. 
The  white  inhabitants  of  the  fort  numbered  about  one  hundred, 
and  but  few  entertained  anxiety  concerning  the  Indians,  who 
had  no  weapons  but  small  arms.  Meanwhile  the  Indians  from 
every  quarter,  were  daily  assembling  in  unusual  numbers,  but 
with  every  appearance  of  friendship,  frequenting  the  fort  and  dis 
posing  of  their  peltries,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  dissipate  almost 
any  one's  fears.  It  was  reported  that  not  less  than  four  hundred 
warriors  were  encamped  near  the  fort. 

As  I  have  promised,  I  shall  associate  the  account  of  Henry's 
adventures  with  a  rehearsal  of  the  horrible  massacre  at  the  fort. 

Shortly  after  his  first  arrival  at  Michilimackinac,  in  the  preced 
ing  year,  a  Chippewa,  named  Wawatam,  began  to  go  often  to  his 
house,  betraying  in  his  demeanor  strong  marks  of  personal  regard. 
After  this  had  continued  for  some  time,  he  went,  on  a  certain  day, 
taking  with  him  his  whole  family,  and  at  the  same  time  a  large 
present,  consisting  of  skins,  sugar  and  dried  meat.  Having  laid 
these  in  a  heap,  he  commenced  a  speech,  in  which  he  informed 
Henry  that  some  years  before,  he  had  observed  a  fast,  devoting  him 
self,  according  to  the  custom  of  his  nation,  to  solitude  and  mortifi- 

a  student.  Medicine  was  always  a  favorite  study  with  him,  but  owing  to 
the  up-hill  road  which  poverty  compelled  him  to  travel,  he  did  not  reach 
the  acme  of  his  ambition  in  this  respect  until  1860,  when  he  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Port  Huron,  Michigan.  As  a  physician 
he  was  eminently  successful. 

In  politics,  Dr.  Pace  is  a  radical  Republican,  his  first  vote  being  cast  for 
Abraham  Lincoln,  in  1860.  In  1864,  he  agreed  with  President  Lincoln 
that  it  was  dangerous  "to  trade  horses  whilst  crossing  a  stream,"  and 
consequently  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign  which  ended  in  the 
defeat  of  Gen.  McClellan.  In  1868,  Dr.  Pace  took  the  stump  for  Gen. 
Grant,  and  again  in  1872  he  took  an  active  part  in  the  presidential  cam 
paign. 

In  the  spring  of  1869  he  was  by  President  Grant  appointed  United 
States  Consul,  at  Port  Sarnia,  Canada,  a  position  which  he  still  occupies. 

In  religion,  Dr.  Pace  is  also  a  radical.  A  reverence  for  the  things  and 
ideas  of  the  past  is  not  a  leading  trait  with  him,  and  he  refuses  to  be  tied 
to  any  article  of  faith. 


208  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

cation  of  his  body,  in  the  hope  to  obtain  from  the  Great  Spirit 
protection  through  all  his  days  ;  that  on  this  occasion  he  had 
dreamed  of  adopting  an  Englishman  as  his  son,  brother  and 
friend ;  that  from  the  moment  in  which  he  first  beheld  him  he  had 
recognized  him  as  the  person  whom  the  Great  Spirit  had  been 
pleased  to  point  out  as  his  brother;  that  he  hoped  that  Henry 
would  not  refuse  his  present,  and  that  he  should  forever  regard 
him  as  one  of  his  family. 

Henry  could  not  do  otherwise  than  accept  the  present.  He 
also  declared  his  willingness  to  have  so  good  a  man  for  his  friend 
and  brother.  Henry  offered  a  present  in  return  for  the  one  he  had 
received,  which  Wawatam  accepted,  and  then,  thanking  Henry  for 
the  favor  which  he  said  he  had  rendered  him,  he  left  the  house, 
and  soon  after  set  out  011  his  winter's  hunt. 

Twelve  months  had  now  elapsed  since  the  occurrence  of  this 
incident,  and  Henry  had  almost  forgotten  the  person  of  his  brother, 
when,  on  the  second  day  of  June,  Wawatam  again  visited  his 
house,  in  a  mood  visibly  melancholy  and  thoughtful.  He  said  he 
had  just  returned  from  his  wintering  ground,  and  went  on  to  say 
that  he  was  very  sorry  to  find  his  old  friend  returned  from  the 
Sault ;  that  he  had  intended  to  go  to  that  place  himself  immedi 
ately  after  his  arrival  at  Michilimackinac ;  and  that  he  wished 
Henry  and  his  family  to  go  there  with  him  the  next  morning.  To 
all  this  Wawatam  added  an  inquiry  as  to  wiiether  or  not  the  com 
mandant  had  heard  bad  news,  adding  that,  during  the  winter,  he 
had  himself  been  frequently  disturbed  with  the  noise  of  evil  winds ; 
and  further  suggesting  that  there  were  numerous  Indians  near  the 
fort,  many  of  whom  had  never  shown  themselves  within  it. 
Wawatam  was  about  forty-five  years  of  age,  of  an  excellent  char 
acter  among  his  nation,  and  a  chief. 

Referring  much  of  what  he  had  heard  to  the  Indian  character, 
Henry  did  not  pay  all  the  attention  to  the  entreaties  and  remarks 
of  his  visitor  which  they  were  found  to  have  deserved  Henry  said 
that  he  could  not  think  of  going  to  the  Sault  as  soon  as  the  next 
morning,  but  would  follow  him  there  after  the  arrival  of  his  clerks. 
Finding  himself  unable  to  prevail,  Wawatam  withdrew  for  that 
day,  but  early  the  next  morning  he  returned,  bringing  with  him  his 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


209 


wife,  and  a  present  of  dried  meat.  At  this  interview,  after  stating 
that  he  had  several  packs  of  beaver,  which  he  intended  to 
trade  with  Henry,  he  expressed  a  second  time  his  apprehensions 
from  the  numerous  Indians  who  were  around  the  fort,  and  earnestly 


HON.  JOHN  MOORE. 

JOHN  MOORE,  the  present  circuit  judge  of  the  tenth  judicial  circuit 
of  this  State,  was  born  in  the  city  of  London,  England,  July  7,  1826. 
When  four  years  of  age,  he,  with  his  family,  removed  to  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  four  years  afterwards  he  emigrated  to  this  State,  and 
resided  upon  a  farm  in  Milford,  Oakland  county,  until  the  spring  of  1846, 
when  he  commenced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Augustus  C. 
Baldwin,  then  of  Milford,  but  now  residing  in  Pontiac.  In  the  spring  of 
1848,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Lothrop  &  Duffield,  of  Detroit,  and  in 
October  of  that  year  was  admitted  an  attorney  of  the  Supreme  Court,  at 
14 


210  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE    STATES. 

pressed  his  English  friend  to  consent  to  an  immediate  departure 
for  the  Sault.  As  a  reason  for  this  particular  request  he  assured 
Henry  that  all  the  Indians  proposed  to  come  in  a  body  that  day 
to  the  fort,  to  demand  liquor  of  the  commandant,  and  that  he 
wished  his  friend  to  be  away  before  they  should  grow  intoxicated. 
This  was  as  much  as  Wawatam  dare  reveal,  but  of  course  he  had 
full  knowledge  of  the  plan  for  the  awful  massacre  that  followed. 

Henry  had  made,  at  the  period  to  which  I  am  now  referring,  so 
much  progress  in  the  language  in  which  Wawatam  addressed  him 
as  to  be  able  to  hold  an  ordinary  conversation  in  it.  Yet  after 
all,  Henry  tells  us,  that  the  Indian  manner  of  speech  is  so  extrav 
agantly  figurative,  that  it  is  only  a  very  perfect  master  that  can 
follow  and  comprehend  it  entirely.  "  Had  I  been  further  advanced 
in  this  respect,"  says  Henry,  "  I  think  that  I  should  have  gathered 
so  much  information  from  my  friendly  monitor,  as  would 
have  put  me  "into  possession  of  the  designs  of  the  enemy,  and 
enabled  me  to  save  others  as  well  as  myself;  as  it  was,  it  unfortu 
nately  happened  that  I  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  everything,  leaving 
Wawatam  and  his  wife,  after  long  and  patient  efforts,  to  depart 
alone,  with  dejected  countenances,  and  not  before  they  each  let 
fall  some  tears." 

a  session  of  that  body  held  in  Pontiac.  Mr.  Moore  commenced  the  prac 
tice  of  his  profession  soon  afterwards  in  Fentonville,  Genesee  county, 
and  remained  there  until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  he  removed  to  Sagi- 
naw,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided,  engaged  in  professional  business. 

Mr.  Moore  was  prosecuting  attorney  of  -Saginaw  county  from  1855  to 
1858,  inclusive.  He  was  also  mayor  of  Saginaw  City  from  1861  to  1863, 
inclusive,  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  about  fifteen 
years  prior  to  June,  1870,  when  he  declined  to  serve  longer,  his  time 
being  too  much  occupied  with  the  business  of  his  profession. 

In  1868,  Mr.  Moore  was  the  Democratic  candidate  for  Governor  of  the 
State,  in  opposition  to  Governor  Baldwin,  and  received  thirty  thousand 
more  votes  than  any  Democratic  candidate  for  that  office  had  ever 
received  prior  to  that  date,  and  above  thirteen  thousand  more  than  any 
candidate  of  that  party  has  since  received  for  that  office. 

A  vacancy  occurred  in  the  office  of  circuit  judge  of  the  tenth  circuit, 
by  the  resignation  of  Judge  Sutherland,  January  1,  1871,  and  a  meeting 
of  the  bar  of  that  circuit  was  held  shortly  afterwards,  and  Mr.  Moore 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  211 

In  the  course  of  the  same  day,  Henry  observed  that  the  Indians 
came  in  great  numbers  into  the  fort,  purchasing  tomahawks,  and 
frequently  desiring  to  see  silver  arm-bands,  and  other  valuable 
ornaments.  These  ornaments,  however,  they  in  no  instance  pur 
chased  ;  but  after  turning  them  over,  left  them,  saying  that  they 
would  call  again  the  next  day.  Their  motive,  as  it  afterward 
appeared,  was  no  other  than  the  very  artful  one  of  discovering,  by 
requesting  to  see  them,  the  peculiar  places  of  their  deposit,  so  that 
they  might  lay  their  hands  on  them,  in  the  moment  of  pillage, 
with  greater  certainty  and  despatch.  At  nightfall,  Henry 
turned  his  mind  to  the  visits  of  Wawatam ;  but,  although  they 
excited  uneasiness,  nothing  induced  him  to  believe  that  serious 
mischief  was  at  hand. 

The  next  day,  being  the  fourth  of  June,  was  the  King's  birthday. 
The  morning  was  sultry.  A  Chippewa  visited  Henry,  and  told 
him  that  his  nation  was  going  to  play  at ,  boggattaway  with  the 
Sacks,  another  Indian  nation,  for  a  high  wager.  He  invited 
Henry  to  witness  the  sport,  adding  that  the  commandant  was  to  be 
there,  and  would  bet  on  the  side  of  the  Chippewas.  In  conse 
quence  of  this  information,  Henry  went  to  the  commandant,  and 
expostulated  with  him  a  little,  representing  that  the  Indians  might 

« 

was  requested,  by  an  unanimous  vote,  to  accept  the  office — a  deserved 
compliment  to  his  legal  ability  and  standing  in  the  profession.  The 
members  of  the  bar,  and  the  leading  men  of  the  circuit,  united,  irrespec 
tive  of  party  distinctions,  in  requesting  Governor  Baldwin  to  appoint  Mr. 
Moore  to  the  office,  on  the  ground  of  his  eminent  ability  and  fitness  of 
the  position.  He  was  accordingly  appointed  on  the  first  day  of  February, 
1871,  to  fill  the  vacancy  until  an  election  could  be  held.  A  special  elec 
tion  was  held  the  following  spring,  at  which  the  Republican  and  Demo 
cratic  parties  united  in  the  nomination  of  Judge  Moore,  and  he  was 
elected  without  opposition.  He  has  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of 
the  office  until  the  present  time,  and  his  work  upon  the  bench  has  fully 
justified  the  expectations  of  his  numerous  friends,  and  has  already  given 
him  an  enviable  reputation  throughout  the  State.  The  business  of  his 
circuit,  measured  by  the  magnitude  and  variety  of  the  interests  involved, 
is  second  to  none  in  the  State,  and  has  been  administered  by  him,  it  is 
believed,  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  profession  and  the  public.  When 
called  to  the  bench  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  profession  in  the  circuit, 


212  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

possibly  have  some  sinister  end  in  view  ;  but  the  commandant  only 
smiled  at  his  suspicions. 

The  game  of  boggattaway,  which  the  Indians  played  upon  that 
memorable  occasion,  was  the  most  exciting  sport  in  which  the  red 
men  could  engage.  It  was  played  with  bat  and  ball.  The  bat, 
so  called,  was  about  four  feet  in  length,  and  one  inch  in  diameter. 
It  was  made  of  the  toughest  material  that  could  be  found.  At 
one  end  it  was  curved,  and  terminated  in  a  sort  of  racket,  or,  per 
haps,  more  properly,  a  ring,  in  which  a  net-work  of  cord  was 
loosely  woven.  The  players  were  not  allowed  to  touch  the  ball 
with  the  hand,  but  caught  it  in  this  net-work  at  the  end  of  the 
bat.  At  either  end  of  the  ground  a  tall  post  was  planted.  These 
posts  marked  the  stations  of  the  rival  parties,  and  were  sometimes 
a  mile  apart.  The  object  of  each  party  was  to  defend  its  own  post, 
and  carry  the  ball  to  that  of  the  adversary.  This  is,  undoubtedly, 
the  same  game  which  is  now  called  Lacrosse,  and  which  is  very 
popular  in  Canada  and  some  parts  of  the  United  States. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  game  the  main  body  of  the  players 
assemble  half-way  between  the  two  posts.  Every  eye  sparkles, 
and  every  cheek  is  already  aglow  with  excitement.  The  ball  is 
tossed  high  into  the  air,  and  a  general  struggle  ensues  to  secure  it 

and  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  lucrative  practice.  In  the  surrender  of  his 
handsome  income  from  this  source  for  the  pitiful  salary  of  his  office,  Mr. 
Moore  displayed  a  public  spirit  as  commendable  as  it  is  rare. 

As  a  judge,  he  is  distinguished  for  his  quick  and  clear  discrimination, 
keen  powers  of  analysis,  thorough  legal  knowledge,  and  sound  judgment 
in  the  application  of  the  law,  as  well  as  promptness  and  impartiality  in 
the  discharge  of  his  official  duties. 

Mr.  Moore  commenced  life  with  habits  of  industry,  energy  and  good 
character,  and  from  this  beginning  he  has  risen  to  his  present  high  posi 
tion,  having  occupied  a  place  among  the  prominent  men  of  his  profession 
in  the  State  for  the  past  fifteen  years,  and  been  identified  with  nearly  all 
,the  important  litigation  in  his  section. 

In  politics  he  is  known  as  a  Democrat,  and  highly  esteemed  for  his 
always  moderate  and  independent  course.  During  the  war  he  did  as 
much  as  any  person  in  that  portion  of  the  State  to  unite  popular  senti 
ment  in  support  of  President  JUncQln's  war  policy,  without  regard  to  men 
pr  measures. 


OF  MICHIGAN. 


213 


as  it  descends.  He  who  succeeds,  starts  for  the  goal  of  the  adver 
sary,  holding  it  high  above  his  head.  The  opposite  party,  with 
merry  yells,  are  swift  to  pursue.  His  course  is  intercepted,  and, 
rather  than  see  the  ball  taken  from  him,  he  throws  it,  as  a  boy 


E.  T.  JUDD. 

E.  T.  JUDD,  of  East  Saginaw,  Michigan,  was  born  in  Geneva,  New 
York,  in  1823.  At  an  early  age  he  commenced  business  for  himself  in 
his  native  town,  and  continued  it  for  eight  years,  winning  many  friends 
and  prospering  copiously.  Closing  up  this  business,  he  removed  to  Ham 
ilton,  Canada  West,  where  he  remained  until  1865,  when  he  removed  to 
East  Saginaw,  and  has  resided  there  ever  since.  On  the  17th  of  June,  of 
the  same  year,  the  First  National  Bank  of  East  Saginaw  was  opened, 
with  Mr.  Judd  as  president,  which  position  he  still  occupies.  Under  the 
management  of  Mr.  Judd,  this  bank  has  secured  a  wide  patronage,  and 
proved  a  good  investment  to  its  stockholders,  becoming  one  of  the  per 
manent  institutions  of  the  Saginaw  Valley. 


214  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

throws  a  stone  from  a  sling,  as  far  towards  the  goal  of  his  adver 
sary  as  he  can.  An  adversary  in  the  game  catches  it  and  sends  it 
whizzing  back  in  the  opposite  direction.  Hither  and  thither  it 
goes ;  now  far  to  the  right,  now  as  far  to  the  left ;  now  near  to 
one,  now  as  near  to  the  other  goal ;  the  whole  band  crowding  con 
tinually  after  it  in  the  wildest  confusion  ;  until,  finally,  some  agile 
figure,  more  fleet  of  foot  than  others,  succeeds  in  bearing  it  to  the 
goal  of  the  opposite  party. 

Persons  still  living  at  Michilimackinac,  who,  having  seen  this 
game  played  by  the  Indians,  and  themselves  participated  in  it,  say 
that  often  a  whole  day  is  insufficient  to  decide  the  contest.  When 
such  is  the  case,  the  following  day  is  taken,  and  the  game  begun 
anew.  As  many  as  six  or  seven  hundred  Indians  sometimes  engage 
in  a  single  game,  while  it  may  be  played  by  fifty.  In  the  heat  of 
the  contest,  when  all  are  running  at  their  greatest  speed,  if  one 
stumbles  arid  falls,  fifty  or  a  hundred,  who  are  in  close  pursuit,  and 
unable  to  stop,  pile  over  him,  forming  a  mound  of  human  bodies, 
and  frequently  players  are  so  bruised  as  to  be  unable  to  proceed  in 
the  game. 

This  game,  with  its  attendant  noise  and  violence,  was  well  calcu 
lated  to  divert  the  attention  of  officers  and  men,  and  thus  permit 
the  Indians  to  take  possession  of  the  fort.  To  make  their  success 
more  certain,  they  prevailed  upon  as  many  as  they  could  to  come 
out  of  the  fort,  while  at  the  same  time  their  squaws,  wrapped  in 
blankets,  beneath  which  they  concealed  the  murderous  weapons, 
were  placed  inside  the  inclosure.  The  plot  was  so  ingeniously  laid 
that  no  one  suspected  danger. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


THE  MASSACRE  AT  FORT  MICHILIMACKINAC —  INDIANS  DRINKING  THE 
BLOOD  OF  ENGLISHMEN — BUFFERINGS  OF  ENGLISH  PRISONERS — THE 
OTTAWAS  ESPOUSE  THE  CAUSE  OF  THE  ENGLISH  AND  TAKE  POSSES 
SION  OF  THE  FORT — THE  INDIAN  COUNCIL. 

THE  discipline  of  the  garrison  was  relaxed,  and  the  soldiers 
permitted  to  stroll  about  and  view  the  sport  without  carrying 
weapons  of  defense ;  and  even  when  the  ball,  as  if  by  chance,  was 
lifted  high  in  the  air,  to  descend  inside  the  pickets,  and  was  fol 
lowed  by  four  hundred  savage  warriors,  all  eager,  all  struggling, 
all  shouting,  in  the  unrestrained  pursuit  of  a  rude,  athletic  exer 
cise,  no  alarm  was  felt  until  the  shrill  war-whoop  told  the  startled 
garrison  that  the  work  of  slaughter  had  actually  begun. 

Mr.  Henry,  of  whom  I  have  been  speaking,  did  not  attend  the 
match  which  I  have  just  described.  There  being  a  canoe  prepared 
to  depart  on  the  following  day  for  Montreal,  he  employed  himself 
in  writing  letters  to  his  friends.  While  thus  engaged,  he  heard  an 
Indian  war  cry  and  a  noise  of  general  confusion.  Going  instantly 
to  his  window,  he  saw  a  crowd  of  Indians,  within  the  fort,  furi 
ously  cutting  down  and  scalping  every  Englishman  they  found. 
In  particular,  he  witnessed  the  fate  of  Lieut.  Jamette.  He  had 
in  the  room  in  which  he  was  a  fowling-piece,  loaded  with  swan- 
shot.  This  he  immediately  seized,  and  held  it  for  a  few  moments, 
waiting  to  hear  the  drum  beat  to  arms.  In  that  dreadful  interval 
he  witnessed  the  scene  of  several  of  his  countrymen  falling  under 
the  tomahawk,  and  more  than  one  struggling  between  the  knees  of 
an  Indian,  who,  holding  him  in  this  manner,  scalped  him  while  yet 
living.  At  length,  disappointed  in  the  hope  of  seeing  resistance 
made  to  the  enemy,  and  knowing  that  no  effort  of  his  own  unas 
sisted  arm  could  avail  against  four  hundred  Indians,  he  thought 
only  of  seeking  shelter.  Amid  the  slaughter  which  was  raging,  he 


216  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

observed  many  of  the  Canadian  inhabitants  of  the  fort  calmly 
looking  on,  neither  opposing  the  Indians,  nor  suffering  injury,  and, 
from  this  circumstance,  he  conceived  a  hope  of  finding  security  in 
their  houses. 

Between  the  yard-door  of  his  own  house  and  that  of  M.  Lang- 
lade,  his  next  neighbor,  there  was  only  a  low  fence,  over  which  he 
easily  climbed.  On  entering,  he  found  the  whole  family  at  the 
windows,  gazing  at  the  scene  of  blood  before  them.  He  addressed 
himself  immediately  to  M.  Langlade,  begging  that  he  would 
put  him  into  some  place  of  safety  until  the  heat  of  the  affair 
should  be  over,  an  act  of  charity  by  which  he  might,  perhaps,  be 
preserved  from  the  general  massacre.  But,  while  he  uttered  his 
petition,  M.  Langlade,  who  had  looked  for  a  moment  at  him, 
turned  again  to  the  window,  shrugging  his  shoulders,  and  intimat 
ing  that  he  could  do  nothing  for  him. 

With  Henry  this  was  a  moment  of  despair ;  but  the  next,  a 
Pawnee  woman,  a  slave  of  M.  Langlade,  beckoned  him  to  follow 
her.  She  led  him  to  a  door,  which  she  opened,  desiring  him  to 
enter,  and  telling  him  that  it  led  to  the  garret,  where  he- must  go 
and  conceal  himself.  Henry  joyfully  obeyed  her  directions ;  and 
she,  having  followed  him  up  to  the  garret  door,  locked  it  after 
him,  and  took  away  the  key.  This  shelter  obtained,  Henry 
became  anxious  to  know7  what  might  still  be  passing  without. 
Through  an  aperture,  which '  afforded  him  a  view  of  the  area  of 
the  fort,  he  beheld,  in  forms  the  foulest  and  most  terrible,  the  fero 
cious  triumphs  of  barbarian  conquerors.  The  dead  were  scalped 
and  mangled ;  the  dying  were  writhing  and  shrieking  under  the 
unsatiated  knife  and  tomakawk ;  and,  from  the  bodies  of  some, 
ripped  open,  their  butchers  were  drinking  the  blood,  scooped  up 
in  the  hollow  of  joined  hands,  and  quaffed  amid  shouts  of  rage 
and  victory.  Henry  was  shaken,  not  only  with  horror,  but  with 
fear.  The  sufferings  which  he  witnessed,  he  seemed  on  the  point 
of  experiencing  himself.  Not  long  elapsed  before,  every  one  being 
destroyed  who  could  be  found,  there  was  a  general  cry  of,  "All  is 
finished  !"  At  the  same  instant,  Henry  heard  some  of  the  Indians 
enter  the  house  in  which  he  had  taken  shelter.  The  garret  was 
separated  from  the  room  below  only  by  a  layer  of  single  boards. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


217 


The  prisoner  could,  therefore,  hear  everything  that  passed ;  and 
the  Indians  no  sooner  came  in  than  they  inquired  whether  or  not 
any  Englishmen  were  in  the  house.  M.  Langlade  replied  that  he 
could  not  say ;  they  might  examine  for  themselves,  and  would 


DR.  J.  B.  WHITE. 

JOHN  B.  WHITE  was  born  January  13,  1826,  in  the  town  of  Pompey, 
Onondaga  county,  New  York.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  he  remained 
with  him  on  the  farm  until  about  his  eighteenth  year,  receiving  such 
education  as  could  be  obtained  at  a  country  school  and  village  academy. 
He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  H.  B.  Moore,  of  Manlius,  New  York,  who 
was  then  the  leading  surgeon  of  that  part  of  the  countiy.  He  attended 
his  first  course  of  medical  lectures  at  Geneva,  New  York,  where  he 
became  clinical  assistant  to  the  professor  of  surgery.  The  following 
year  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  graduated  at  the  Philadelphia  College 


218  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

soon  be  satisfied  as  to  the  object  of  their  question.  Saying  this, 
he  conducted  them  to  the  garret  door. 

The  state  of  Henry's  mind  at  this  juncture  may  be  imagined. 
When  they  arrived  at  the  door,  some  delay  was  occasioned,  owing 
to  the  absence  of  the  key,  and  a  few  moments  were  thus  allowed 
Henry  in  which  to  look  round  for  a  hiding  place.  In  one  corner 
of  the  garret  was  a  heap  of  those  vessels  of  birch  bark  used  in 
making  maple  sugar. 

The  door  was  unlocked  and  opened,  and  the  Indians  ascended 
the  stairs  before  Henry  had  completely  crept  into  a  small  opening 
which  presented  itself  at  one  end  of  the  heap.  An  instant  later, 
four  Indians  entered  the  room,  all  armed  with  tomahawks,  and  all 
besmeared  with  blood  upon  every  part  of  their  bodies.  The  die 
appeared  to  be  cast.  Henry  could  scarcely  breathe,  and  he  was 
sure  that  the  throbbing  of  his  heart  occasioned  a  noise  loud  enough 
to  betray  him.  The  Indians  walked  in  every  direction  about  the 
garret,  and  one  of  them  approached  him  so  closely  that,  at  a  par 
ticular  moment,  had  he  put  forth  his  hand,  he  could  have  touched 
him.  Still,  he  remained  undiscovered,  a  circumstance  to  which 
the  dark  color  of  his  clothes,  and  the  want  of  light  in  the  room, 
must  have  contributed.  In  short,  after  taking  several  turns  in  the 
room,  during  which  they  told  Langlade  how  many  they  had  killed 
and  how  many  scalps  they  had  taken,  they  returned  down  stairs  ; 
and  Henry,  with  sensations  not  easily  expressed,  heard  the  door 
locked  for  the  second  time. 

of  Medicine,  and  in  the  spring  of  1860  received  an  ad  eundem  degree  from 
the  medical  department  of  Pennsylvania  College.  Soon  after  his  gradua 
tion  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  practiced  his  profession,  with  his  old 
preceptor,  for  about  two  years,  and  while  there  received  the  appointment 
of  demonstrator  of  anatomy  in  the  New  York  College  of  Dental  Surgery, 
but  on  the  earnest  solicitation  of  his  old  friend  and  room  mate  of  the 
village  academy  (now  the  Hon.  J.  G.  Sutherland),  who  had  located  and 
was  practicing  law  at  Saginaw  City,  Michigan,  he  was  induced  to  remove 
to  that  city,  where  he  arrived  July  1,  1854.  He  early  succeeded  in 
acquiring  a  large  and  extensive  practice,  which  declining  health  has  now 
compelled  him  to  partially  abandon.  He  now  devotes  his  time  chiefly  to 
the  practice  of  gynaecology,  and  is  medical  advisor  and  acting  surgeon  of 
the  Jackson,  Lansing  &  Saginaw  Division  of  the  Michigan  Central  R.  R. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  219 

There  «was  a  feather  bed  on  the  floor,  and  on  this,  exhausted  as 
he  was  by  agitation  of  mind,  he  threw  himself  down  and  went  to 
sleep.  In  this  condition  he  remained  till  the  dark  of  the  even 
ing,  when  he  was  awakened  by  a  second  opening  of  the  door. 
The  person  who  now  entered  was  M.  Langlade's  wife,  who  was 
much  surprised  at  finding  him,  but  advised  him  not  to  be  uneasy, 
observing  that  the  Indians  had  killed  most  of  the  Englishmen, 
but  that  she  trusted  he  would  escape.  A  shower  of  rain  having 
begun  to  fall,  she  had  come  to  stop  a  hole  in  the  roof.  On 
retiring,  Henry  begged  her  to  send  him  a  little  water  to  drink, 
which  she  did. 

As  night  was  now  advancing,  he  continued  to  lie  on  the  bed, 
thinking  of  his  condition,  but  unable  to  discover  a  source  from 
which  he  could  hope  for  life.  A  flight  to  Detroit  had  no  probable 
chance  of  success  ;  the  distance  from  Miehilimackinac  was  four 
hundred  miles ;  he  was  without  provisions,  and  the  whole  length 
of  the  road  lay  through  Indian  countries — countries  of  an  enemy 
in  arms — where  the  first  Indian  he  should  meet  would  take  his 
life.  To  stay  where  he  was  threatened  nearly  the  same  thing. 
As  before,  fatigue  of  mind,  and  not  tranquillity,  suspended  his 
cares,  and  procured  him  further  sleep. 

The  respite  which  sleep  afforded  him  during  the  night  was  ended 
by  the  return  of  morning.  At  sunrise,  he  heard  the  family  stir 
ring,  and  presently  after,  Indian  voices,  informing  M.  Langlade 
that  they  had  not  found  an  Englishman  named  Henry  among  the 

Dr.  White  has  always  been  a  diligent  student,  and  taken  great  interest  in 
the  advancement  of  medical  education,  especially  in  the  medical  schools 
of  our  State,  and  is  an  active  working  member  of  the  county  and  State 
medical  societies.  He  is  also  a  permanent  member  of  the  National  Medi 
cal  Association.  As  a  practitioner,  he  has  taken  high  rank,  and  by  steady 
observance  of  the  professional  amenities,  has  ever  been  on  good  fellow 
ship  and  popularity  with  other  members  of  his  profession.  He  is  a  firm 
upholder  of  the  dignity  of  the  profession.  Charlatanry,  of  whatever 
form  or  kind,  is  confronted  boldly.  He  is  unyielding  in  his  opposition 
to  all  of  the  sophism  of  the  day,  convinced  that  whatever  there  is  of 
value  in  the  healing  art  is  mainly  due  to  the  discoveries  and  investiga 
tions  of  those  who  continue  to  walk  in  the  path  of  regular  and  legitimate 
medicine. 


220  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

dead,  and  that  they  believed  him  to  be  somewhere  concealed. 
M.  Langlade  appeared  from  what  followed,  to  be,  by  this  time, 
acquainted  with  the  place  of  Henry's  retreat,  of  which,  no  doubt, 
he  had  been  informed  by  his  wife.  The  poor  woman,  as  soon  as 
the  Indians  mentioned  Henry,  declared  to  her  husband,  in  the 
French  tongue,  that  he  should  no  longer  shield  the  Englishman, 
but  deliver  him  up  to  his  pursuers,  giving  as  a  reason  that,  should 
the  Indians  discover  his  instrumentality  in  the  matter,  they  might 
avenge  it  on  her  children.  M.  Langlade  resisted  at  first,  but  soon 
suffered  her  to  prevail,  informing  the  Indians  that  he  had  been 
told  Henry  was  in  the  house ;  that  he  had  come  there  without 
his  knowledge,  and  that  he  would  put  him  into  their  hands. 
This  was  no  sooner  expressed  than  he  began  to  ascend  the  stairs, 
the  Indians  following  at  his  heels.  Henry  now  resigned  himself  to 
his  fate  ;  and,  regarding  every  attempt  at  concealment  as  vain,  he 
arose  from  the  bed,  and  presented  himself  in  view  to  the  Indians, 
who  were  entering  the  room.  They  were  all  in  a  state  of  intoxi 
cation,  and  entirely  naked,  except  about  the  middle.  One  of 
them,  named  Wenniway,  whom  he  had  previously  known,  walked 
up  to  him,  and  seized  him  with  one  hand  by  the  collar  of  the  coat, 
while  in  the  other  he  held  a  large  carving-knife,  as  if  to  plunge  it 
into  his  breast;  his  eyes,  meanwhile,  were  fixed  steadfastly  on 
Henry's.  At  length,  after  some  seconds  of  the  most  anxious  sus 
pense,  he  dropped  his  arm,  saying,  "  I  won't  kill  you  !"  To  this 
he  added  that  he  had  been  frequently  engaged  in  war  against  the 
English,  and  had  brought  away  many  scalps ;  that,  on  a  certain 
occasion,  he  had  lost  a  brother,  whose  name  was  Musinigon,  and 
that  Henry  should  be  called  after  him.  He  then  ordered  him 
down  stairs,  and  there  informed  him  that  he  was  to  be  taken  to 
his  cabin.  Here,  as  indeed  everywhere  else,  the  Indians  were  all 
mad  with  liquor.  Death,  again,  was  threatened,  and  not  as  possi 
ble  only,  but  as  certain.  Henry  mentioned  his  fears  on  this  subject 
to  M.  Lauglade,  begging  him  to  represent  the  danger  to  his  mas 
ter.  Langlade,  in  this  instance,  did  not  withhold  his  compassion, 
and  the  Indian  immediately  consented  that  Henry  should  remain 
where  he  was,  until  he  found  another  opportunity  to  take  him 
away. 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN.  221 

Thus  far  secure,  lie  reascended  the  stairs,  in  order  to  place  him 
self  the  farthest  possible  out  of  the  reach  of  insult  from  drunken 
Indians ;  but  he  had  not  remained  there  more  than  an  hour,  when 
he  was  called  to  the  room  below,  in  which  was  an  Indian  who  said 


HON.  ELEAZER  JEWETT. 

ELEAZER  JEWETT  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  April  29, 
1799.  He  came  to  Michigan  and  settled  on  the  Saginaw  river  in  Septem 
ber,  1826,  traveling  from  Pontiac  on  foot,  alone,  carrying  in  a  pack  all 
his  worldly  goods.  The  country  was  then  new  and  unsettled.  Eight  miles 
north  of  Pontiac  was  the  residence  of  Alpheus  Williams,  father  of  Harvey 
Williams,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Saginaw  Valley.  There  was  no 
other  trace  of  civilization  on  the  way,  except  at  Grand  Blanc  and  the 
Grand  Traverse  of  Flint  River  (now  city  of  Flint).  At  the  latter  place  a 
half-breed  named  Campau  had  a  log  hut  on  the  south  side  of  the  river, 


222  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

that  the  Englishman  must  go  with  him  out  of  the  fort,  Wenniway 
having  sent  for  him.  Henry  had  also  seen  this  man  before.  In 
the  preceding  year  he  had  allowed  him  to  take  goods  on  credit, 
for  which  he  still  owed ;  and  some  short  time  previous  to  the  sur 
prise  of  the  fort  he  had  said,  upon  being  asked  for  the  amount, 
that  "  he  would  pay  the  Englishman  before  long."  This  speech 
now  came  fresh  in  Henry's  memory,  and  led  him  to  suspect  that 
the  fellow  had  formed  a  design  against  his  life.  He  communicated 
his  suspicion  to  Langlade,  but  that  gentleman  gave  for  an  answer, 
that  he  was  not  his  own  master,  and  must  do  as  the  Indian  had 
ordered. 

The  Indian,  on  his  part,  directed  the  Englishman  to  undress 
himself  before  leaving  the  house,  declaring  that  his  coat  and  shirt 
would  become  an  Indian  better  than  they  did  Henry.  His  pleas 
ure  in  this  respect  being  complied  with,  no  other  alternative  was 
left  to  Henry  than  either  to  go  out  naked,  or  to  put  on  the  clothes 
of  the  Indian,  which  he  freely  gave  him  in  exchange.  His  motive 
for  thus  stripping  him  of  his  own  apparel  was  no  other,  as  Henry 
afterwards  learned,  than  that  it  might  not  be  stained  with  blood 
when  he  killed  him. 

The  Englishman  was  now  ordered  to  proceed,  and  his  driver  fol 
lowed  him  close  until  he  had  passed  the^gate  of  the  fort,  when  he 

near  where  the  principal  bridge  stands.  Between  Flint  river,  at  this  place, 
and  Saginaw,  was  an  unbroken  wilderness,  and  only  an  Indian  trail  to 
guide  the  adventurous  traveler.  There  was  no  settlement  in  the  Saginaw 
Y  alley,  except  on  the  site  where  the  city  of  Saginaw  now  is.  Here  was 
a  narrow  clearing  on  the  margin  of  the  river.  Besides  the  Indian  farmers 
and  blacksmiths,  provided  by  the  government,  the  American  Fur  Com 
pany  had  a  small  trading  establishment  in  charge  of  a  Frenchman  named 
Reauine.  They  constituted  the  civilized  population. 

Mr.  Jewett  went  into  the  employ  of  the  American  Fur  Company  for 
two  years,  then  he  built  a  block  house  on  Green  Point  and  commenced 
trading  with  the  Indians  on  his  own  account.  He  continued  this  trade 
for  ten  years. 

He  married  in  1831.  His  eldest  child,  a  daughter,  now  the  wife  of  Dr. 
N.  D.  Lee,  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  the  Saginaw  Valley. 

In  1832,  Mr.  Jewett  purchased  at  Steben's  mill,  on  Thread  river,  near 
the  Grand  Traverse  of  Flint  river,  10,000  feet  of  pine  boards,  of  which 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN  223 

turned  toward  the  spot  where  he  knew  the  Indians  to  be  encamped. 
This,  however,  did  not  suit  the  purpose  of  the  Indian.  He  seized 
Henry  by  the  arm,  drew  him  violently  in  the  opposite  direction, 
to  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  above  the  fort.  Here,  finding  that 
he  was  approaching  the  bushes  and  sand  hills,  Henry  determined 
to  proceed  no  farther,  but  told  the  Indian  that  he  believed  he 
meant  to  murder  him,  and  that  if  so,  he  might  as  well  strike 
where  he  was  as  at  any  greater  distance.  The  Indian  replied  with 
coolness,  that  the  Englishman's  suspicions  were  correct,  and  that 
he  meant  to  pay  him,  in  this  manner,  for  his  goods.  At  the  same 
time  he  produced  a  knife,  and  held  Henry  in  a  position  to  receive 
the  intended  blow.  Both  this  and  that  which  followed  were  neces 
sarily  the  affairs  of  a  moment.  By  some  effort,  too  sudden,  and 
too  little  dependent  on  thought  to  be  explained  or  remembered, 
Henry  was  enabled  to  arrest  his  arm,  and  give  him  a  sudden  push, 
by  which  he  turned  from  him  and  became  released  from  his  grasp. 
This  was  no  sooner  done  than  Henry  ran  towards  the  fort  with  all 
the  swiftness  in  his  power,  the  Indian  following  him,  and  the  pur 
sued  expecting  every  moment  to  feel  the  knife  of  the  pursuer. 
Henry  succeeded  in  his  flight,  and  on  entering  the  fort,  he  saw 
Wenniway  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  area,  and  hastened  to 
him  for  protection.  Wenniway  desired  the  Indian  to  desist ;  but 

he  formed  a  raft  in  Flint  river.  Unaided,  he  floated  this  raft  down  to 
the  driftwood  at  the  mouth  of  Flint  river.  Of  this  lumber  he  constructed 
a  frame  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Green  Point,  in  which 
he  afterwards  resided  and  continued  his  business. 

In  January,  1837,  when  Saginaw  City  had  attained  considerable  size  as 
a  village,  he  placed  his  house  on  four  sleds  and  drew  it  with  four  pair  of 
oxen  down  the  river  on  the  ice  to  the  "city,"  where,  notwithstanding 
some  other  migrations,  it  is  still  standing. 

In  1828,  he  brought  the  first  swine  to  8aginawT  county. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1832,  he  invited  the  entire  population  of  the  Sag 
inaw  Valley  to  a  celebration  of  the  national  anniversary  at  his  home  on 
Green  Point.  All  the  inhabitants,  old  and  young — twenty-nine  in  num 
ber — came  at  his  hospitable  invitation.  The  ceremonies  were  patriotic 
and  interesting.  They  were  enlivened  by  music  and  conviviality— the 
music  on  a  bass  drum,  brought  and  played,  solo,  by  Abraham  Butts,  a 
respected  pioneer,  who  died  only  two  years  ago;  the  conviviality,  aided 


224  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

the  latter  still  pursued  him  around  the  chief,  making  several 
strokes  at  Henry  with  his  knife,  and  foaming  at  the  mouth  with 
rage  at  the  repeated  failure  of  his  purpose.  At  length  Wenuiway 
drew  near  to  M.  Langlade's  house,  and,  the  door  being  open, 
Henry  ran  into  it.  The  Indian  followed  him,  but  on  entering  it 
he  voluntarily  abandoned  the  pursuit. 

Preserved  so  often,  and  so  unexpectedly,  as  it  had  already  been 
his  lot,  he  returned  to  his  garret,  with  a  strong  inclination  to 
believe  that,  through  the  will  of  an  overruling  Providence,  no 
Indian  enemy  could  do  him  hurt.  Exhausted  with  fear,  he  threw 
himself  upon  the  bed  and  was  soon  relieved  by  sleep.  At  ten 
o'clock  in  the  evening  he  was  again  aroused,  and  once  more  desired 
to  descend  the  stairs.  Not  less,  however,  to  his  satisfaction  than 
surprise,  he  was  summoned  only  to  meet  Major  Etherington,  Mr. 
Bostwick,  and  Lieutenant  Leslie,  who  were  in  the  room  below. 
These  gentlemen  had  been  taken  prisoners,  while  looking  at  the 
game  without  the  fort,  and  immediately  stripped  of  all  their 
clothes.  They  were  now  sent  into  the  fort  under  the  charge  of 
Canadians,  because,  the  Indians  having  resolved  on  getting  drunk, 
the  chiefs  were  apprehensive  that  they  would  be  murdered  if  they 
continued  in  the  camp.  Lieutenant  Jamette  and  seventy  English 
had  been  killed,  and  but  twenty  Englishmen,  including  soldiers, 
were  still  alive.  These  were  all  within  the  fort,  together  with 
more  than  double  their  number  of  Canadians. 

by  the  spirituous  beverage  of  the  time,  which  was  innocent  of  all  the 
corruptions  that  at  a  later  date  have  rendered  it  obnoxious.  His  three 
sons  grew  to  manhood.  One  fell  in  the  service  of  his  country  at  Gettys- 
burgh  ;  the  others  reside  at  Saginaw,  worthy  examples  of  industry  and 
thrift. 

Mr.  J.  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  at  an  early  day,  and  has  since 
served  in  that  capacity  for  nearly  thirty  years.  He  also  served  as  county 
surveyor  for  nearly  twenty  years,  immediately  succeeding  the  inaugura 
tion  of  Saginaw  county,  and  served  fourteen  years  as  judge  of  probate. 

He  is  the  sole  survivor  of  the  first  pioneers.  In  his  prime,  he  was  a 
man  of  courage  and  muscle.  He  is  still  in  robust  health,  residing  quietly 
and  in  comfort  at  .his  country  seat  in  Kochville.  He  does  not  appeal- 
to  be  the  worse  for  the  exposure  and  hardships  of  his  rough  pioneer 
experience. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


225 


It  was  suggested  among  the  English  prisoners  that  an  effort  to 
regain  possession  of  the  fort  might  successfully  be  made.  The 
Jesuit  missionary  was  consulted  on  the  subject,  but  his  words  dis 
couraged  the  idea.  Thus  the  fort  and  prisoners  remained  in  the 


R.  W.  JENNY. 

ROYAL  W.  JENNY  came  to  Michigan  in  1834,  and  engaged  at  his  trade 
in  Detroit,  where  he  worked  six  years.  In  1840,  he  launched  the  Lapeer 
Sentinel  on  his  own  account.  This  journal  was  first  edited  by  Mr.  Henry 
W.  Williams,  and  at  a  later  period  by  Col.  J.  R.  White,  who  is  still  living 
at  Lapeer.  He  moved  to  Saginaw  City  in  the  spring  of  1844,  where  he 
edited  and  published  the  North  Star,  at  that  time  the  most  northerly  paper 
in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Jenny  not  only  edited  and  printed  the  Star, 
unaided  by  help  of  any  kind,  but  for  quite  a  period  filled  the  responsible 
position  of  town  clerk  of  Saginaw;  was  one  of  the  superintendents  of 
15 


226  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

hands  of  the  Indians,  though  through  the  whole  night  the  prisoners 
and  whites  were  in  actual  possession.  That  whole  night,  or  the 
greater  part  of  it,  was  passed  in  mutual  condolence.  In  the  morn 
ing  Henry  was  visited  by  Wenniway,  and  ordered  to  accompany 
that  chief.  He  led  him  to  a  small  house  within  the  fort,  where, 
in  a  narrow  room  which  was  almost  dark,  he  found  his  old  friend 
Solomons,  an  Englishman  from  Detroit,  and  a  soldier,  both  pris 
oners.  With  these  he  remained  in  painful  suspense  as  to  the  scene 
that  was  next  to  present  itself.  At  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon, 
an  Indian  arrived,  and  immediately  marched  them  to  the  lake 
side,  when  a  canoe  appeared  ready  for  departure,  and  in  which 
they  were  ordered  to  embark.  Their  voyage,  full  of  doubt  as  it 
was,  would  have  commenced  immediately,  but  that  one  of  the 
Indians  who  was  to  be  of  the  party  was  absent.  His  arrival  was 
to  be  waited  for,  and  this  occasioned  a  very  long  delay,  during 
which  the  Englishmen  were  exposed  to  a  keen  northwest  wind. 
An  old  shirt  was  all  that  covered  Henry,  and  he  suffered  much 
from  the  cold.  At  noon  the  party  was  collected,  the  prisoners  all 

the  poor  of  Saginaw  county,  and  deputy  postmaster.  At  this  period, 
Judge  G.  D.  Williams  was  postmaster  at  Saginaw,  which  was  the  only 
postoffice  in  all  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the  counties  of  Sagi 
naw,  Tuscola,  Bay  and  Midland. 

Mr.  Jenny  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Hill,  a  sister  of  the  late 
lamented  James  N.  Gotee  and  Jerome  H.  Gotee,  at  Saginaw,  in  February, 
1847.  His  wife  is  an  estimable  lady,  of  rare  literary  culture,  and  who, 
soon  after  her  removal  to  Flint  with  her  husband  in  1849,  wrote  the  con 
stitution  and  by-laws  of  the  Ladies'  Library  Association  of  that  city,  and 
organized  it.  This  was  the  first  institution  of  the  kind  formed  in  the 
Northwest,  and  has  become  the  model  for  the  hundreds  of  similar 
associations  scattered  throughout  Michigan  and  the  whole  Northwest. 
In  this  great  field  of  usefulness,  Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Jenny  has  won  the 
highest  esteem  of  the  people  of  this  State,  and  endeared  her  memory  to 
coming  generations. 

Since  Mr.  Jenny's  removal  to  Flint,  he  has  published  the  Genesae Demo 
crat — a  journal  which  has  ever  been  high-minded  in  discussion,  honest  in 
politics,  and  deserving  of  the  extensive  patronage  which  it  has  always 
enjoyed.  During  the  late  war,  Mr.  Jenny  urged,  through  the  columns  of 
his  journal,  the  "raising  of  men  and  money"  that  the  general  govern 
ment  might  need  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  Major  E.  W.  Lyon,  at  that 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  227 

embarked,  and  they  started  for  the  Isles  du  Castor,  in  Lake  Michi 
gan.  The  Indians  in  the  canoe  numbered  seven,  the  prisoners 
four.  The  soldier  was  made  fast  to  a  bar  of  the  canoe,  by  a  rope 
tied  around  his  neck,  as  is  the  manner  of  the  Indians  in  trans 
porting  their  prisoners.  The  others  were  left  unconiined,  but  pad 
dles  were  put  into  their  hands,  and  they  were  ordered  to  use  them. 
After  paddling  along  for  some  time,  keeping  near  shore  on  account 
of  a  dense  fog  that  prevailed,  they  approached  'the  land  of  the 
Ottawas,  at  Fox  Point,  eighteen  miles  from  Michilimackinac. 
After  the  Indians  had  made  their  war  whoop,  an  Ottawa  appeared 
upon  the  beach  and  signaled  them  to  land.  When  the  canoe 
arrived  in  shallow  water,  a  hundred  Ottawas  sprung  from  among 
the  bushes,  and  dragged  the  prisoners  out  of  it  amid  a  terrifying 
shout.  They  gave  as  a  reason  for  this  action,  that  the  Chippewas 
had  insulted  them  by  attacking  the  English  without  consulting 
them,  and  consequently  they  were  friends  of  the  English  and  ene 
mies  of  the  Chippewas.  They  added  that  what  they  had  done 

time  a  partner  with  Mr.  Jenny,  at  once  raised  a  company  for  Col.  Fen- 
ton's  regiment,  in  which  he  was  effectually  aided  by  Mr.  Jenny. 

A  few  years  ago,  participating  in  the  celebration  of  the  completion  of 
the  railroad  from  East  Saginaw  to  Bay  City,  Mr.  Jenny,  in  response  to  a 
call,  said:  "  You  of  the  Saginaws  do  not  duly  appreciate  your  geographi 
cal  position  and  the  advantages  you  will  receive  in  the  not  distant  future. 
Quicker  than  you  now  dream  will  you  find  yourselves  on  the  great  line  of 
communication  between  the  orients  and  the  Occidents.  The  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  finished — now,  I  admit,  only  talked  of — and  the  people 
of  China  and  Japan  will  throng  your  streets  and  solicit  your  acquaintance 
and  trade.  You  gentlemen  over  the  table  who  laugh  at  my  credulity, 
please  remember  my  predictions." 

If  the  reader  will  remember  that  those  words  were  uttered  when 
northern  Michigan  was  a  wilderness,  and  that  his  predictions  have  been 
already  more  than  realized,  it  will  be  easy  to  appreciate  the  value  of  such 
a  man  to  the  infant  growth  of  our  State.  It  has  been  stated  that  Mr. 
Jenny  has  ' '  built  in  his  paper  "  nearly  every  work  of  improvement  pro 
jected  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  at  least  half  a  dozen  times  before 
they  were  undertaken  by  active  operations.  Two  projects  only  now 
remain,  heretofore  advocated  by  him,  but  the  lookout  for  these  is  not 
very  encouraging.  They  are  slack-water  navigation  of  the  Flint  river 
from  Flint  to  Saginaw,  and  the  "  Bad  River  Canal"  in  Saginaw  county. 


228  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

was  for  the  purpose  of  saving  their  lives,  aa  the  Chippewas  were 
carrying  them  to  the  Isles  du  Castor  to  kill  and  eat  them. 

The  prisoners  were  soon  embarked  again  in  an  Ottawa  canoe, 
and  carried  back  to  Michilimackinac,  where  they  were  marched 
into  the  fort  by  the  Ottawas  in  view  of  the  Chippewas,  who  were 
confounded  at  seeing  their  brothers  of  the  forest  opposing  them. 
The  Ottawas,  being  of  sufficient  numbers,  at  once  took  possession 
of  the  fort.  The  prisoners  who  had  changed  hands  were  lodged 
in  the  house  of  the  commandant,  and  vigilantly  guarded. 

Early  the  next  morning  a  general  council  was  held,  in  which 
the  Chippewas  complained  of  the  conduct  of  the  Ottawas  in  rob 
bing  them  of  their  prisoners,  and  urging  them  to  join  in  the  war, 
as  the  English  were  meeting  with  destruction  in  every  part  of  the 
world.  As  the  Indians  rarely  make  their  answers  until  the  day 
following  the  hearing  of  the  arguments  offered,  the  council 
adjourned  for  that  purpose. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


THE  ENGLISH  PERSECUTED  AT  MrcHiLiMACKmAC  AFTER  THE  MASSACRE 
— THE  ADVENTURE  OF  HENRY — PRISONERS  DIVIDED  BETWEEN  THE 
OHIPPEWAS  AND  THE  OTTAWAS— LIEUTENANT  GORELL  RESCUES  THE 
PRISONERS  FROM  THE  OTTAWAS,  AND  THE  ENGLISH  LEAVE  THE 
COUNTRY — ESCAPE  OF  HENRY. 

THE  prisoners,  whose  fate  was  thus  in  controversy,  were  unac 
quainted  at  the  time  with  this  transaction,  and,  therefore,  enjoyed 
a  night  of  tolerable  tranquillity.  The  result  of  the  council  was 
that  the  prisoners  were  returned  to  the  Chippewas.  While  in  the 
hands  of  the  Ottawas,  the  prisoners  had  been  informed  that  the 
former  intended  to  kill  them  and  make  broth  of  them  ;  hence,  we 
may  imagine  their  feelings  at  being  restored  to  their  old  enemies. 
The  Chippewas  marched  them  into  a  village  of  their  own,  and  put 
them  into  a  lodge,  already  the  prison  of  fourteen  soldiers,  tied  two 
and  two,  each  having  a  rope  about  his  neck  that  was  made  fast  to 
a  pole  of  the  lodge.  Henry  was  left  untied  ;  but  he  passed  a  night 
sleepless  and  full  of  wretchedness.  His  bed  was  the  bare  ground, 
and  his  only  clothing  was  the  old  shirt,  already  mentioned.  He 
was,  besides,  in  want  of  food,  having  for  two  days  eaten  nothing. 
Henry  relates  that,  while  he  was  in  the  canoe  with  the  Chippewas, 
they  offered  him  bread,  but  that  it  had  been  cut  from  the  loaf 
with  the  same  knives  the  Indians  used  in  the  massacre — knives 
still  covered  with  blood.  The  blood  they  moistened  with  spittle, 
and,  rubbing  it  on  the  bread,  offered  it  to  the  prisoners,  telling 
them  to  eat  the  blood  of  their  countrymen. 

Such  was  the  situation  of  the  Englishmen  at  Michilimackinac 
on  the  seventh  of  June,  1763,  but  a  few  hours  produced  an  event 
that  gave  still  a  new  color  to  Henry's  lot.  Toward  noon,  when 
the  great  war  chief,  in  company  with  Wenniway,  was  seated  at  the 
opposite  end  of  the  lodge,  his  friend,  Wawatam,  suddenly  entered. 
In  passing  by  he  gave  Henry  his  hand,  but  went  immediately 


230  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

toward  the  great  chief,  and  sat  down  beside  him.  The  most 
uninterrupted  silence  prevailed ;  each  smoked  his  pipe ;  and, 
this  done,  Wawatam  arose  and  left  the  lodge,  saying  to  Henry, 
as  he  passed,  "  Take  courage !"  An  hour  elapsed,  during  which 
several  chiefs  entered,  and  preparations  appeared  to  be  making 
for  a  council.  At  length,  Wawatam  reentered  the  lodge,  followed 
by  his  wife,  and  both  loaded  with  merchandise,  which  they  carried 
up  to  the  chiefs,  and  laid  in  a  heap  before  them.  Some  moments  of 
silence  followed,  at  the  end  of  which  Wawatam  delivered  a  speech. 

"  Friends  and  relations,"  he  began,  "  what  is  it  that  I  shall 
say  ?  You  know  what  I  feel.  You  all  have  friends,  and  brothers, 
and  children,  whom,  as  yourselves,  you  love ;  and  you — what 
would  you  experience,  did  you,  like  me,  behold  your  dearest 
friend,  your  brother,  in  the  condition  of  a  slave-^-a  slave,  exposed 
every  moment  to  insult  and  to  menaces  of  death.  This  case,  as 
you  all  know,  is  mine.  See  there  (pointing  to  Henry)  my  friend 
and  brother  among  slaves — himself  a  slave.  You  all  well  know 
that,  long  before  the  war  began,  I  adopted  him  as  my  brother. 
From  that  moment  he  became  one  of  my  family,  so  that  no  danger 
of  circumstances  could  break  the  cord  which  fastened  us  together. 
He  is  my  brother  ;  and,  because  I  am  your  relation,  he  is,  there 
fore,  your  relation,  too  ;  and  how,  being  your  relation,  can  he  be 
your  slave  ? 

"  On  the  day  on  which  the  war  began  you  were  fearful  lest,  on 
this  very  account,  I  should  reveal  your  secret;  you  requested, 
therefore,  that  I  should  leave  the  fort,  and  even  cross  the  lake.  I 
did  so ;  but  I  did  it  with  reluctance.  I  did  it  with  reluctance, 
notwithstanding  that  you  (naming  the  chief)  who  had  the  com 
mand  in  this  enterprise,  gave  me  your  promise  that  you  would 
protect  my  friend,  delivering  him  from  all  danger,  and  giving  him 
safely  to  me.  The  performance  of  this  I  now  claim.  I  come  not 
with  empty  hands  to  ask  it.  I  bring  these  goods,  to  buy  off 
every  claim  which  any  man  among  you  all  may  have  on  my 
brother,  as  his  prisoner." 

Wawatam  having  ceased,  the  pipes  were  again  filled ;  and,  after 
they  were  finished,  a  further  period  of  silence  followed.  At  the 
end  of  this,  Minavavana  arose  and  gave  his  reply : 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


231 


"  My  relation  and  brother,"  said  he,  "  what  you  have  spoken  is 
truth.  We  were  acquainted  with  the  friendship  which  subsisted 
between  yourself  and  the  Englishman,  in  whose  behalf  you  have 
now  addressed  us.  We  knew  the  danger  of  having  our  secret  dis- 


GEN.   MARK   FLANIGAN. 

MARK  FLANIGAN  was  born  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  the 
year  1825.  His  parents,  who  belonged  to  the  sect  of  Presbyterians 
known  as  Covenanters,  emigrated  to  Canada  in  1833,  whence  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  came  to  the  United  States  in  1841,  and  settled  in  Detroit, 
Michigan,  in  1845. 

In  1847  he  engaged  in  business,  in  which  he  continued  down  to  the 
breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  soon  after  which  he  volunteered  to  serve 
during  the  war,  entering  the  24th  Michigan  Infantry,  of  which  regiment 
he  was  made  lieutenant-colonel.  He  served  with  distinction  under  all 
the  generals  who  commanded  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 


232  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

covered,  and  the  consequences  that  must  follow  ;  and  you  say 
truly  that  we  requested  you  to  leave  the  fort.  This  was  done  out 
of  regard  for  you  and  your  family ;  for,  if  a  discovery  of  our 
design  had  been  made,  you  would  have  been  blamed,  whether 
guilty  or  not ;  and  you  would  thus  have  been  involved  in  difficul 
ties  from  which  you  could  not  have  extricated  yourself.  It  is  also 
true  that  I  promised  to  take  care  of  your  friend  ;  and  this  promise 
I  performed  by  desiring  my  son,  at  the  moment  of  the  assault,  to 
seek  him  out,  and  bring  him  to  my  lodge.  He  went,  accordingly, 
but  could  not  find  him.  The  day  after,  I  sent  him  to  Langlade's, 
where  he  was  informed  that  your  friend  was  safe ;  and,  had  it  not 
been  that  the  Indians  were  then  drinking  the  rum  which  had  been 
found  in  the  fort,  he  would  have  brought  him  home  with  him, 
according  to  my  orders.  I  am  very  glad  to  find  that  your  friend 
has  escaped.  We  accept  your  present,  and  you  may  take  him  home 
with  you." 

Wawatam  thanked  the  chiefs,  and,  taking  Henry  by  the  hand, 
led  him  to  his  lodge,  which  was  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods  only 
from  the  prison-lodge.  His  entrance  appeared  to  give  joy  to  the 
whole  family  ;  food  was  immediately  prepared  for  him,  and  he  now 
ate  the  first  hearty  meal  which  he  had  made  since  his  capture. 
He  found  himself  one  of  the  family  ;  and,  but  that  he  had  still 
his  fears  as  to  the  other  Indians,  he  felt  as  happy  as  the  situation 
could  allow.  In  the  course  of  the  next  morning,  he  was  alarmed 
by  a  noise  in  the  prison-lodge  ;  and,  looking  through  the  opening 
of  the  lodge  in  which  he  was,  he  beheld  seven  dead  bodies  of  white 
men  dragged  forth.  Upon  inquiry,  he  was  informed  that  a  certain 

For  gallant  conduct  at  Fitzhugh  Crossing,  Va.,  Lieut. -Col.  Flanigan 
was  made  colonel  by  brevet,  and  received  the  further  brevet  rank  of 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers  for  the  bravery  shown,  and  the  valuable 
services  rendered,  at  Gettysburg,  in  which  famous  battle  he  lost  a  leg. 
On  his  return  home,  after  partially  recovering  from  his  wound,  he  was 
received  by  the  city  of  Detroit  with  the  most  nattering  tokens  of  the 
regard  and  approbation  of  her  citizens. 

In  addition  to  an  honorable  military  record,  Gen.  Flanigan  has  long 
occupied  a  prominent  position  in  civil  affairs.  An  active  member  of  the 
old  Detroit  fire  department,  he  was  for  many  years  foreman  of  Phoenix 
Co.  No.  5,  and  also  held  the  position  of  member  of  the  board  of  trustees 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  233 

* 

chief,  called  by  the  Canadians,  Le  Grand  Sable,  had  not  long 
before  arrived  from  his  winter's  hunt ;  and  that  he,  having  been 
absent  when  the  war  began,  and  being  desirous  of  manifesting  to 
the  Indians  at  large  his  hearty  concurrence  in  what  they  had  done, 
had  gone  into  the  prison-lodge,  and  there,  with  his  knife,  put  the 
seven  men  to  death.  Shortly  after,  two  of  the  Indians  took  one 
of  the  dead  bodies,  which  they  chose  as  being  the  fattest,  cut  off 
the  head,  and  divided  the  whole  into  five  parts,  which  were  put 
into  five  kettles,  hung  over  as  many  fires,  kindled  for  this  purpose 
at  the  door  of  the  prison-lodge.  Soon  after,  the  horrible  prepara 
tions  were  deemed  completed,  and  the  warriors  were  invited  to  the 
feast.  The  invitations  are  given  by  the  master  of  the  feast. 
Small  cuttings  of  cedar  wood,  of  about  four  inches  in  length, 
supply  the  place  of  cards ;  and  the  bearer,  by  word  of  mouth, 
states  the  particulars.  The  Indians  attend,  each  taking  with  him 
his  dish  and  spoon. ,  Henry  tells  us  that  his  friend  Wawatam  did 
not  appear  to  have  relished  the  repast,  having  returned,  after  an 
absence  of  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  bringing  in  his  dish  a  human 
hand  and  a  large  piece  of  flesh. 

In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  a  large  canoe  was  seen  advanc 
ing  to  the  fort.  The  Indian  cry  was  raised  in  the  village,  a  general 
muster  ordered,  and,  to  the  number  of  two  hundred,  the  savages 
marched  up  to  the  fort,  where  the  canoe  was  expected  to  land. 
The  occupants  of  the  canoe,  who  were  English  traders,  suspected 
nothing,  and  came  boldly  to  the  fort,  when  they  were  seized, 

and  treasurer  of  the  department.  He  was  an  alderman  of  the  city  in 
1859  and  1860,  and  sheriff  of  Wayne  county  in  1861  and  1862,  until  he 
entered  the  army. 

The  wound  received  at  Gettysburg  having  unfitted  him  for  further  ser 
vice  in  the  field,  he  was  made  provost-marshal  at  Detroit,  and  was 
afterwards  assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  the  first  district  of  Michigan. 
On  the  consolidation  of  revenue  offices,  and  the  reduction  of  the  force, 
he  was  made  collector  of  internal  revenue  at  Detroit,  which  office  he  now 
holds.  Gen.  Flauigan's  labors  in  the  cause  of  free  schools,  during  the 
many  years  he  has  been  a  leading  member  of  the  Detroit  Board  of  Edu 
cation,  are  too  well  known  to  need  comment  or  praise  from  us.  It  is 
sufficient  to  say  that  their  results  have  uniformly  been  such  as  to  add  to 
the  respect  and  regard  felt  for  him  by  his  fellow-citizens. 


234  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

I 

dragged  through  the  water,  beaten,  reviled,  marched  to  the  prison, 
and  there  stripped  of  their  clothes  and  confined. 

Of  all  the  English  traders  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians 
at  the  capture  of  the  fort,  Mr.  Tracy  was  the  only  one  who  lost  his 
life.  Mr.  Solomons  and  Mr  Henry  Bostwick  were  taken  by  the 
Ottawas ;  and,  after  the  peace,  carried  to  Montreal,  and  there  ran 
somed.  One  account  says  that,  out  of  ninety  troops,  seventy  were 
killed.  This  is  probably  incorrect,  as  there  were  only  about 
thirty-five  soldiers,  with  their  officers,  in  the  fort.  It  is  only  rea 
sonable  to  suppose  that  of  the  seventy  killed,  many  were  women 
and  children,  wives  and  children  of  the  soldiers. 

The  peculiarities  of  the  Indian  character  readily  explain  the 
part  which  the  Ottawas  played  in  this  transaction.  They  deemed 
it  a  gross  insult  that  the  Chippewas  had  undertaken  an  enterprise 
of  such  vast  importance  without  consulting  them  or  asking  their 
assistance.  They  had,  therefore,  rescued  Henry  and  his  compan 
ions  in  tribulation  from  the  hands  of  their  captors,  and  borne 
them  back  to  the  fort.  After  the  council  between  the  two  nations, 
of  which  we  have  already  spoken,  some  of  the  prisoners,  among 
whom  was  Henry,  were  given  up,  but  the  officers  and  several  of 
the  soldiers  were  retained,  and  carried  by  the  Ottawas  to  L'Arbre 
Croche.  Here  they  were  treated  with  kindness.  From  this  point 
Ethrington  dispatched  two  letters,  one  by  Father  Janois,  to  Major 
Gladwyn,  of  Detroit;  and  the  other,  by  an  Ottawa  Indian,  to 
Lieutenant  Gorell,  at  Green  Bay.  These  letters  contained  a  brief 
account  of  the  massacre,  and  an  earnest  entreaty  for  assistance. 

When  Father  Janois  reached  Detroit,  he  found  the  place  closely 
besieged  ;  and,  consequently,  no  assistance  could  be  had  from  that 
quarter ;  but  at  Green  Bay  the  Indian  messenger  was  more  for 
tunate.  With  seventeen  men,  Lieutenant  Gorell  had  taken  pos 
session  of  that  post  in  1761,  and,  by  a  system  of  good  management, 
had  succeeded  in  allaying  the  hostility  of  the  savages,  and  secur 
ing  the  friendship  of  at  least  a  part  of  the  tribes  around  him. 
On  receiving  Ethrington's  letter^  Gorell  told  the  Indians  what 
the  Chippewas  had  done,  and  that  he  and  his  soldiers  were 
going  to  Michilimackinac  to  restore  order,  adding  that,  during 
his  absence,  he  commended  the  fort  to  their  care.  Presents 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


235 


were  distributed  among  them,  and  advantage  taken  of  every  cir 
cumstance  that  could  possibly  be  made  to  favor  the  English 
cause ;  so  jthat,  when  the  party  was  ready  to  embark,  ninety 
warriors  proposed  to  escort  the  garrison  on  its  way. 


J.   M.   STANLEY. 

JAMES  M.  STANLEY,  the  leading  delineator  of  Indian  character,  was 
a  man  of  more  than  national  reputation  as  an  artist,  and  no  mere  bio 
graphical  sketch  can  do  justice  to  his  achievements.  He  was  born  at 
Canadaigua,  N.  Y.,  on  the  17th  of  January,  1814.  At  an  early  age  he 
was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  for  a  livelihood,  and  he  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  boyhood  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In  1834,  he  removed 
to  this  State,  and,  in  1835,  commenced  his  profession  of  portrait  painting 
in  the  city  of  Detroit.  He  remained  there  until  1837,  when  he  went  to 


236  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Arriving  at  L'Arbre  Croche,  where  Captain  Ethrington,  Lieu 
tenant  Leslie,  and  eleven  men  were  yet  detained  as  prisoners, 
Gorell  received  an  intimation  that  the  Ottawas  intended  to  dis 
arm  his  soldiers ;  but  he  promptly  informed  them  that  such  an 
attempt  would  meet  with  a  vigorous  resistance.  Several  days 
were  now  spent  in  holding  councils.  The  soldiers  from  Green  Bay 
requested  the  Ottawas  to  set  their  prisoners  at  liberty,  to  which 
the  latter  at  length  assented.  Thinking  only  of  how  they  might 
escape  their  troublesome  foes,  they  prepared  to  depart.  One  dif 
ficulty,  however,  yet  remained.  The  Ojibwas  (Chippewas)  had 
declared  that  they  would  prevent  the  English  from  passing  down 
to  Montreal ;  and  again  they  had  recourse  to  a  council.  A  revul 
sion  of  feeling,  as  we  shall  soon  see,  had  already  taken  place 
among  the  Chippewa  chiefs ;  and  at  length,  though  reluctantly, 
they  yielded  the  point.  On  the  eighteenth  day  of  July,  1763, 


Chicago,  residing  there  and  at  Galena,  Illinois,  until  1839,  where  he  spent 
much  of  his  time  in  painting  portraits  of  the  Indians,  and  taking  sketches 
of  the  Indian  country  in  the  region  of  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota.  Sub 
sequently  he  followed  his  profession  in  New  York  City,  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  Troy,  K  Y.  In  1842,  having  in  the  mean 
time  become  imbued  with  a  love  for  Indian  scenes  and  adventures,  he 
traveled  extensively  over  the  great  prairies  of  the  West,  painting  the 
portraits  in  full  costume  of  the  leading  warriors  around  Fort  Gibson, 
Arkansas,  and  in  Texas  and  New  Mexico.  He  accompanied  the  Kearney 
and  Emory  expeditions  across  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and,  after  perform 
ing  much  important  labor  for  the  United  States  government  in  California, 
he  visited  Oregon  and  traversed  the  greater  portion  of  the  Columbia 
river,  taking  a  large  number  of  sketches  of  the  scenery  along  the  route 
and  transferring  them  to  canvas.  Afterwards,  he  spent  over  a  year  in 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  and,  in  1851,  settled  in  Washington,  where  he 
resided  until  1863,  when  he  returned  to  Detroit,  residing  there  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  on  the  10th  of  April,  1872,  being  caused  from 
heart  disease. 

During  his  residence  in  Washington,  he  placed  in  the  Smithsonian 
Institute  a  large  and  very  valuable  collection  of  portraits  of  the  leading 
Indian  chiefs  of  this  country,  and  when  a  portion  of  that  building  was 
destroyed  by  fire  on  January  24,  1865,  these  pictures  were  burned  with 
it.  This  collection  was  the  result,  substantially,  of  eleven  years  of  travel 
and  labor,  and  their  pecuniary  value  cannot  be  estimated.  This  gallery 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  237 

escorted  by  a  fleet  of  Indian  canoes,  the  English  left  L'Arbre 
Croche,  and,  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  August,  the  whole  party 
arrived  in  safety  at  Montreal,  leaving  not  a  British  soldier  in  the 
region  of  the  lakes  except  at  Detroit. 

For  a  little  more  than  a  year  after  the  massacre,  Michilimacki- 
nac  was  only  occupied  by  the  coureurs  des  bois,  and  such  Indian 
bauds  as  chose  to  make  it  a  temporary  residence ;  but,  after  the 
treaty  with  the  Indians,  Captain  Howard,  with  a  sufficiently 
large  detachment  of  troops,  was  sent  to  take  possession  of  that 
post ;  and,  once  more,  the  English  flag  was  a  rallying  point  and 
the  protection  of  the  adventurous  trader  at  Michilimackinac. 

We  will  now  turn  back,  in  point  of  time,  and  follow  Mr.  Henry 
to  the  end  of  his  thrilling  adventures,  after  which  we  will 
resume  our  narrative  of  the  nine  surprisals  by  Pontiac  and  his 
brave  warriors. 

comprised  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  paintings,  mostly  life-size,  of  the 
prominent  chiefs  and  leading  men  of  forty-two  distinct  tribes. 

The  opportunities  that  Mr.  Stanley  had  for  acquiring  a  thorough  insight 
into  the  habits  and  manners  of  the  North  American  Indians  will,  per 
haps,  best  be  inferred  from  a  brief  outline  of  his  labors  and  travels  as  a 
delineator  of  Indian  life  and  character.  These  may  be  said  to  date  from 
the  visit  to  Fort  Gibson,  heretofore- referred  to.  During  his  sojourn  at 
this  frontier  post,  he  painted  the  portraits  of  Alligator,  Wild  Cat,  Tiger, 
Big  Warrior,  and  many  other  prominent  Seminole  chiefs,  then  living. 
From  Fort  Gibson,  Mr.  Stanley  went  with  the  party  of  Col.  Pierce  M. 
Butler,  U.  S.  Commissioner,  to  attend  a  council  of  the  Texas  tribes  of 
Indians  at  Wacco  village  on  the  Brazos  river,  where  terms  of  a  treaty 
were  discussed,  but  not  finally  settled.  From  Wacco  village  he  returned 
with  the  Butler  party  to  Fort  Smith,  Arkansas,  by  a  circuitous  route, 
crossing  the  Red  river  of  the  South  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  the  whole 
distance  being  traversed^  without  a  military  escort.  Shortly  after  his 
return,  Mr.  Stanley  left  Fort  Smith  to  visit  a  council  of  Indians  at 
Talequah,  attended  by  seventeen  different  prairie  and  border  tribes,  where 
he  found  an  excellent  opportunity  to  study  savage  life  in  some  of  its  most 
striking  and  interesting  phases.  Upon  this  occasion,  over  fifteen  thou 
sand  Indians  went  daily  through  their  favorite  ball  plays,  dances  and 
other  diversions,  and  the  opportunities  thus  afforded  for  enriching  his 
portfolio  were  fully  improved.  In  1843,  he  attended  a  council  near  Cache 
Creek,  on  the  Red  river  of  the  South,  and,  in  1846,  in  the  capacity  of 


238  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ninth  of  Jnne,  a  general  council  was 
held,  at  which  it  was  resolved  to  remove  to  the  Island  of  Macki 
naw,  situated  in  the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  to  the  north,  as  a  more 
defensible  situation,  in  the  event  of  an  attack  by  the  English. 
The  Indians  had  begun  to  entertain  apprehensions  of  a  want  of 
strength.  No  news  had  reached  them  from  the  Pottawattamies,  in 
the  Bay  des  Paunts,  and  they  were  uncertain  whether  or  not  the 
Monomins  would  join  them.  They  even  feared  that  the  Sioux 
would  take  the  English  side.  Their  minds  made  up  on  this 
point,  they  prepared  for  a  speedy  retreat.  At  noon,  the  camp  was 
broken  up,  and  they  embarked,  taking  with  them  the  prisoners 
that  were  still  undisposed  of,  among  whom  was  Henry,  the  hero 
of  this  romantic  adventure.  By  the  approach  of  evening,  they 
reached  the  island  in  safety,  and  the  women  were  not  long  in 
erecting  their  cabins.  In  the  morning,  there  was  a  muster  of  the 

topographical  draughtsman,  he  went  with  Gen.  Kearney  to  New  Mexico 
and  California,  passing  along  the  Gila  river,  and  this  was  the  first  time 
the  American  flag  was  ever  unfurled  in  the  Gila  Valley.  This  expedition 
was  frequently  intercepted  by  Indians,  but  under  the  direction  of  the 
famous  mountain  guide  and  explorer,  Kit  Carson,  they  fought  their  way 
through.  The  march  occupied  three  months.  The  expedition  was 
severely  handled  at  San  Pasquale  and  San  Bernardino,  and,  although  Mr. 
Stanley  lost  all  his  clothing  and  other  effects,  he  saved  his  sketches,  paints 
and  canvas. 

From  San  Diego,  California,  the  artist  proceeded  to  San  Francisco, 
where  he  completed  his  official  engagement,  and  severed  his  connection 
with  the  public  service.  In  1847,  he  took  with  him  some  Indian  guides, 
and  made,  at  his  own  expense,  a  tour  through  the  whole  extent  of  the 
territory  of  Oregon.  Having  diligently  observed  the  manners,  customs 
and  habits  of  the  aborigines,  sketched  the  beautiful  scenery,  and  painted 
the  principal  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  different  tribes,  he  returned  to 
San  Francisco,  and  engaged  passage  in  a  vessel  homeward  bound,  by  the 
Cape  from  Honolulu.  On  the  way  back,  the  artist  passed  some  time  on 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  he  was  engaged  to  paint  the  portraits  of  King 
Kamehameha  I  and  his  consort.  It  was  from  the  Sandwich  Islands  that 
he  shipped  to  the  Atlantic  States  a  large  and  valuable  number  of  Indian 
curiosities  collected  in  Oregon,  which  were  unfortunately  lost  in  the  ship 
wreck  of  a  whaler. 

Mr.  Stanley's  fourth  journey  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1853,  when  he 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  239 

Indians,  at  which  there  were  found  three  hundred  and  fifty  fight 
ing  men.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  canoe  arrived  from  Detroit, 
with  ambassadors,  who  endeavored  to  prevail  on  the  Indians  to 
repair  thither,  to  the  assistance  of  Pontiac ;  but  fear  was  now  the 
prevailing  passion.  A  guard  was  kept  during  the  day,  and  a 
watch  by  night,  and  alarms  were  very  frequently  spread.  Had  an 
enemy  appeared,  all  the  prisoners  would  have  been  put  to  death. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  imagine  the  feelings  of  Henry  and  his  fellow- 
prisoners  at  this  time. 

One  morning  an  alarm  was  given,  and  the  Indians,  in  large 
numbers,  ran  toward  the  beach.  In  a  short  time  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  canoes  from  Montreal  were  in  sight.  All  the  Indian 
canoes  were  immediately  manned,  and  those  from  Montreal  sur 
rounded  and  seized.  The  goods  were  consigned  to  a  Mr.  Levy, 
and  would  have  been  saved  if  the  canoe-men  had  called  them 

formed  one  of  the  party  that  accompanied  Isaac  L.  Stevens,  the  first 
Governor  of  Washington  Territory,  on  his  survey  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railway  route.  In  this  tour,  he  traversed  the  continent  from  the 
head  waters  of  the  Mississippi  river  via  Forts  Benton  and  Union,  the 
Rocky  Mountain  chain,  and  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains  (to  the  west  of 
the  Rocky),  to  Fort "  Coldville,  one  of  the  old  Hudson  Bay  Company's 
stations,  down  the  Columbia  river  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  thence  back 
by  the  Isthmus.  It  was  with  this  party  that  Mr.  Stanley  became  per 
sonally  and  intimately  acquainted  with  all  the  tribes  on  the  upper  waters 
of  the  Missouri — the  Creeks,  Assiniboins,  Crows,  Sioux,  Blackfeet  and 
others,  dwelling  in  the  regions  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains;  and  renewed, 
on  this  occasion,  his  acquaintance  with  the  tribes  on  the  Upper  Colum 
bia,  whom  he  had  already  visited  in  1847-48,  after  the  Keftrney  expedition. 
In  these  eleven  years,  during  which  Mr.  Stanley  explored  all  that  vast 
region  vaguely  described  on  the  older  maps  as  the  "Indian  Country," 
but  which  now  comprises  the  States  and  Territories  of  Texas,  New 
Mexico,  Arizona,  California,  Oregon,  Washington,  Minnesota,  Dacota, 
Montana,  Idaho,  and  the  British  Possessions,  he  had  every  opportunity 
to  become  familiar  with  the  Nomads,  whose  home  the}T  have  been  since 
time  immemorial.  Mr.  Stanley  was  thrown  into  more  or  less  immediate 
contact  with  nearly  all  the  tribes  in  the  Western  country,  and  he  wras 
therefore  with  justice  regarded  as  one  of  the  highest  authorities  on 
Indian  life  and  character.  The  time  when  the  red  men,  who  were  once 
the  sole  occupants  of  our  prairies  and  forests,  will  survive  only  in  song 


240  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

French  property ;  but  they  were  so  terrified  that  they  disguised 
nothing.  In  the  canoes  was  a  large  quantity  of  liquor — a  dan 
gerous  acquisition,  and  one  which  threatened  disturbance  among 
the  Indians,  from  their  bloodthirsty  recklessness  while  under  its 
influence. 

Wawatam,  always  watchful  of  Henry's  safety,  no  sooner  heard 
the  sounds  of  drunken  revelry,  in  the  evening,  than  he  repre 
sented  to  Henry  the  danger  of  remaining  in  the  village,  and 
owned  that  he  could  not  himself  resist  the  temptation  of  joining 
his  comrades  in  the  debauch.  That  he  might  escape  all  mischief, 
the  Indian  requested  Henry  to  accompany  him  to  the  mountain, 
where  he  was  to  remain  hidden  till  the  liquor  should  be  drunk. 
They  ascended  the  mountain,  accordingly.  After  walking  more 
than  half  a  mile,  they  came  to  a  rock,  at  the  base  of  which  was 
an  opening,  dark  within,  and  appearing  to  be  the  entrance  of  a 


and  story,  is  not  far  distant;  and  these  truthful  and  yet  vivid  delineations 
of  a  once  great  race  of  human  beings  will  then  constitute  one  of  their 
best  and  most  authentic  records. 

To  enumerate  all  of  this  artist's  productions  would  be  too  extended  an 
undertaking  for  a  limited  sketch  like  this.  His  most  important  recent 
work,  "  The  Trial  of  Red  Jacket,"  is  well  known  and  has  become  popu 
larized  by  the  faithful  chromo  reproductions  of  the  original  work,  which 
were  executed  in  Berlin,  Prussia.  This  celebrated  painting  was  exhibited 
in  all  the  principal  cities  of  this  country  and  many  in  Europe,  and  is 
now  in  Detroit  at  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Stanley.  It  is  valued  at  $30,000. 
Among  his  productions  are  several  of  great  interest,  depicting  events  in 
the  history  of  Michigan,  which  have  also  been  reproduced  in  chromolitho 
graphs;  and  creditable  portraits  of  distinguished  men  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  have  been  painted  by  him.  He  endeavored,  by  all  means  in  his 
power,  to  cultivate  a  love  for  art  matters  wherever  he  resided,  and  several 
years  since,  by  the  expenditure  of  a  great  amount  of  labor  and  time,  he 
succeeded  in  organizing  the  Western  Art  Association,  and  opening  a 
gallery  of  paintings,  which  is  now  a  permanent  and  valuable  acquisition 
to  Detroit. 

Personally,  he  was  a  man  among  men.  He  was  quiet,  unobtrusive  and 
gentlemanly — a  thorough  artist,  and  one  who  always  had  a  good  worcl 
for  his  fellows.  He  was  greatly  loved  by  those  who  knew  him,  and  his 
death  was  lamented  by  all  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  have  formed 
his  acquaintance. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


241 


cave.     Here  Wawatam  recommended  that  Heiiry  should  take  up 
his  lodgings,  and  by  all  means  remain  till  he  returned. 

The  entrance  to   the  cave  was   nearly  ten  feet  wide ;  and,  on 
going  in,  he  found  the  further  end  rounded  like  an  oven,  but  with 


JAMES   SHEARER. 

JAMES  SHEARER,  of  Bay  City,  Michigan,  was  born  in  the  city  of 
Albany,  i^ew  York,  in  1823. 

In  1837,  he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Detroit,  where  he 
resided  until  1846,  being  engaged  in  business  as  an  architect  and  builder. 
He  was  identified  with  many  of  the  public  and  private  enterprises  con 
tributing  to  the  development  of  that  city  during  his  residence  there,  and 
enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

In  1864,  he  removed  to  Bay  City,  Michigan,[and  engaged  in  lumbering, 
16 


242  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

a  further  aperture — too  small,  however,  to  be  explored.  After 
thus  looking  around  him,  he  broke  small  branches  from  the  trees, 
and  spread  them  for  a  bed,  then  wrapped  himself  in  his  blanket, 
and  slept  till  daybreak.  On  waking,  he  found  himself  incom 
moded  by  some  object  upon  which  he  was  lying,  and,  removing  it, 
found  it  to  be  a  bone.  This  he  supposed  to  be  that  of  a  deer,  or 
some  other  animal ;  but,  when  daylight  visited  his  chamber,  he 
discerned,  with  some  feelings  of  horror,  that  he  was  lying  on 
nothing  less  than  a  heap  of  human  bones  and  skulls,  which  cov 
ered  the  bottom  of  the  cave.  Henry  passed  the  day  without  the 
return  of  Wawatam,  and  without  food.  As  night  approached,  he 
found  himself  unable  to  meet  its  darkness  in  the  charnel-house, 
which  he  had  made  his  home  during  the  day.  He  chose,  there 
fore,  an  adjacent  bush  for  this  night's  lodging,  and  slept  under  it ; 
but,  in  the  morning,  he  awoke  hungry  and  dispirited,  and  almost 
envying  the  repose  of  the  dead  in  the  mountain  cave,  to  the  view 
of  which  he  returned.  At  length  the  sound  of  a  foot  reached  his 
ear,  and  his  Indian  friend  appeared,  making  many  apologies  for 
his  long  absence,  the  cause  of  which  was  an  unfortunate  excess  in 
the  enjoyment  of  his  liquor. 

On  returning  to  the  lodge  Henry  experienced  a  cordial  wel 
come  from  the  family,  which  consisted  of  the  wife  of  his  friend, 
his  two  sons,  of  whom  the  eldest  was  married,  and  whose  wife  and 
a  daughter  of  thirteen  years  of  age  completed  the  list. 

A  few  days  after  this  occurrence,  Minavavana,  chief  of  the  vil 
lage  of  Michilimackinac,  Visited  the  lodge  of  Wawatam,  and 
when  the  usual  ceremony  of  smoking  was  finished,  he  observed 

banking,  real  estate  and  other  occupations,  with  more  than  average  suc 
cess.  Mr.  Shearer  has  been  President  of  the  First  National  Bank,  of 
Bay  City,  since  January,  1868;  President  of  the  Lumberman's  Associa 
tion  since  its  organization  in  1870;  President  of  the  Bay  City  Water 
Works  Commission  since  its  formation  in  1871;  and  is  one  of  the  present 
Commissioners  on  the  building  of  the  State  Capital  at  Lansing.  He  is 
also  a  director  in  a  number  of  other  business  associations  in  his  city,  and 
has  frequently  declined  many  offices  of  trust  and  honor,  preferring  rather 
to  follow  in  the  quiet  channel  of  a  business  life,  than  to  travel  the 
tumultous  road  of  the  public  servant. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  243 

that  Indians  were  daily  arriving  from  Detroit,  some  of  whom 
had  lost  relations  in  the  war,  and  who  would  certainly  retaliate 
on  any  Englishman  they  found,  upon  which  account  he  advised 
that  Henry  should  be  dressed  like  an  Indian,  an  expedient  by 
which  he  might  hope  to  escape  all  future  insult.  He  could  not 
but  assent  to  the  proposal,  and  the  chief  was  so  kind  as  to 
assist  Wawatam  in  effecting,  that  very  day,  the  desired  change. 
His  hair  was  cut  off,  and  his  head  shaven,  with  the  exception  of  a 
spot  on  the  crown  of  about  twice  the  diameter  of  a  silver  dollar. 
His  face  was  painted  with  three  or  four  different  colors,  some 
parts  of  it  red,  and  others  black.  A  shirt  was  provided  for  him, 
painted  with  vermilion,  mixed  with  grease.  A  large  collar  of 
wampum  was  put  round  his  neck,  and  another  suspended  on  his 
breast.  Both  his  arms  were  decorated  with  large  bands  of  silver 
above  the  elbows,  besides  several  smaller  ones  on  the  wrists ;  and 
his  legs  were  covered  with  mitasses,  a  kind  of  hose,  made  of  scar 
let  cloth.  A  scarlet  mantle,  or  blanket,  was  placed  on  his  shoul 
ders,  and  his  head  was  decorated  with  a  large  bunch  of  feathers. 

Protected  in  a  great  measure  by  this  disguise,  he  felt  himself 
more  at  liberty  than  before,  and  the  season  being  arrived  in  which 
his  clerks  from  the  interior  were  expected,  and  a  portion  of  his 
property  recovered,  he  begged  the  favor  of  Wawatam  that  he 
would  enable  him  to  pay  a  short  visit  to  Michilimackinac.  The 
Indian  complied,  and  Henry  found  his  clerks,  but,  owing  to  their 
misconduct,  he  obtained  nothing.  Indeed,  he  now  began  to  think 
that  he  should  require  nothing  during  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
To  fish  and  to  hunt,  to  collect  a  few  skins  and  exchange  them  for 
necessaries,  was  all  that  he  seemed  destined  to  do  and  to  acquire 
for  the  future. 

He  returned  to  the  Indian  village,  where  at  this  time  much 
scarcity  of  food  prevailed.  They  were  often  for  twenty-four  hours 
without  eating  a  morsel,  and  when,  in  the  morning,  they  had  no 
victuals  for  the  day  before  them,  the  custom  was  to  black  their 
faces  with  charcoal,  and  exhibit  thorough  resignation  and  a  tem 
per  as  cheerful  as  if  in  the  midst  of  plenty.  A  continuance  of 
this  famine,  however,  soon  compelled  them  to  leave  the  island  in 
search  of  food ;  and  they  departed  for  the  Bay  of  Boutchitaouy, 


244  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

distant  eight  miles,  where  they  found  plenty  of  wild  fowl  and  fish. 
Leaving  the  bay  mentioned,  Henry,  with  his  friend  Wawatam, 
and  family,  went  to  St.  Martin's  Island,  where,  in  the  enjoyment 
of  an  excellent  and  plentiful  supply  of  food,  they  remained  till 
the  twenty-sixth  of  August.  It  was  now  proposed  by  Wawatam, 
to  Henry's  great  joy,  to  go  to  his  wintering  quarters.  Prepara 
tion  being  made,  they  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  River  Aux 
Sables,  and,  "  as  they  hunted  along  their  way,"  says  Henry,  "  I 
enjoyed  a  personal  freedom,  of  which  I  had  long  been  deprived, 
and  became  as  expert  in  the  Indian  pursuits  as  the  Indians  them 
selves."  The  winter  was  spent  in  the  chase ;  and,  by  degrees, 
Henry  became  familiarized  with  that  kind  of  life ;  and,  had  it  not 
been  for  the  idea,  of  which  he  could  not  divest  his  mind,  that  he 
was  living  among  savages,  and  for  the  whisper  of  a  lingering  hope 
that  he  should  one  day  be  released  from  it,  he  could  have 
enjoyed  as  much  happiness  in  this  as  in  any  other  situation. 

At  the  approach  of  spring,  the  hunters  began  their  prepara 
tions  for  returning  to  Michilimackinac  ;  but  their  faces  were  no 
sooner  turned  towards  the  scene  of  the  massacre,  than  all  began 
to  fear  an  attack  from  the  English.  On  the  twenty-seventh  of 
April,  1764,  they  landed  at  the  fort  of  Michilimackinac.  The 
Indians  who  had  arrived  before  them  were  few  in  number,  and, 
as  yet,  Henry  was  treated  with  great  civility. 

With  his  earnings  of  the  winter's  chase  Henry  procured  clothes, 
of  which  he  was  much  in  need,  having  been  six  months  without 
a  shirt!  In  addition,  he  purchased  a  good  store  of  ammunition 
and  tobacco,  which  exhausted  his  resources.  Eight  days  had 
passed  in  tranquillity,  when  there  arrived  a  band  of  Indians  from 
the  Bay  of  Saguenaum.  They  had  assisted  at  the  siege  of 
Detroit,  and  were  now  trying  to  muster  recruits  for  that  service. 
Henry  was  soon  informed  that,  as  he  was  the  only  Englishman  in 
the  place,  they  proposed  to  kill  him,  in  order  to  give  their  friends 
a  mess  of  English  broth,  to  raise  their  courage.  This  intelligence 
was  not  of  the  most  agreeable  kind,  and  he  requested  his  Indian 
friend  to  carry  him  to  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  at  which  place  he 
knew  the  Indians  to  be  peaceably  inclined,  and  that  M.  Cadotte, 
a  resident  of  that  place,  enjoyed  a  powerful  influence  over  their 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


245 


COD  duct.  They  considered  Cadotte  as  their  chief,  and  it  is  said  he 
was  a  friend  to  the  English.  It  was  by  him  that  the  Chippewas 
of  Lake  Superior  were  prevented  from  joining  Pontiac.  Wawa- 
tam  complied,  and  that  same  night  transported.  Henry  and  his 


LORENZO   B.  CURTIS. 

LORENZO  B.  CURTIS,  of  Saginaw  City,  was  born  in  Boston,  Erie  county, 
New  York,  May  3,  1821.  He  emigrated  to  Michigan  with  his  father, 
Benjamin  Curtis,  in  September,  1830,  and  settled  in  Vicksburg,  Wash- 
tenaw  county.  In  the  spring  of  the  succeeding  year  his  father  purchased 
a  farm  in  the  township  of  Green  Oak,  Livingston  county,  and  there  the 
family  immediately  moved.  They,  with  the  family  of  Mr.  Stephen  Lee, 
were  the  first  white  settlers  in  the  county. 

It  was  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county  that  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  received  his  education.  His  father  dying  in  the  summer  of  1834, 


246  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

own  lodge  to  Point  St.  Ignace,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Strait. 
Here  they  remained  till  daylight.  The  following  day,  Henry 
hailed  a  canoe  on  the  way  .to  the  Sault,  and,  finding  that  it  con 
tained  the  wife  of  Cadotte,  already  mentioned,  he  obtained  per 
mission  to  accompany  the  party.  Henry  bid  his  Indian  friends 
farewell ;  and,  putting  on  his  Canadian  suit,  took  his  seat  in  the 
canoe.  After  an,  agreeable  journey,  they  arrived  safe  at  the  Sault, 
where  Henry  received  a  generous  welcome  from  Cadotte.  He  had 
been  at  this  place  but  six  days,  when  he  was  informed  that  a 
canoe  full  of  warriors  was  approaching,  with  the  intention  of  kill 
ing  him.  Nearly  at  the  same  time  he  received  a  message  from 
the  chief  of  the  village,  telling  him  to  conceal  himself.  A  garret 
was,  a  second  time,  his  place  of  refuge ;  and,  through  the  influence 
of  Cadotte,  his  life  was  spared. 

At  this  juncture  the  village  was  astir,  on  account  of  a  canoe 
which  had  just  arrived  from  Niagara.  The  straDgers  bore  a  mes 
sage  from  Sir  William  Johnson,  desiring  the  Indians  of  the  Sault 
to  send  deputies  to  a  great  council,  or  feast,  to  be  held  at 

he,  being  the  oldest  of  seven  children,  was  left  in  charge  of  the  family. 
To  fulfill  this  duty  he  carried  on  his  father's  farm  for  the  two  succeeding 
years,  when,  his  mother  marrying  again,  he  started  out  in  life  for  him 
self,  working  at  farming  and  taking  jobs  at  clearing  land  during  the 
summer  seasons,  and  attending  school  during  the  winters.  In  1845  he 
removed  to  Genesee  county,  and  purchased  a  saw  mill  ten  miles  north  of 
Flint.  After  running  this  for  two  years  it  burned  down,  and  with  it 
about  half  a  million  feet  of  lumber,  his  barn  and  house,  leaving  him  pen 
niless  and  |1,000  in  debt.  Nothing  daunted,  he  removed  to  Saginaw  in 
the  spring  of  1848,  and  at  once  went  into  the  employ  of  Judge  Gardner 
D.  Williams,  with  whom  he  remained  until  he  spring  of  1852.  He  then 
was  engaged  by  Capt.  Millard,  and  after  working  for  him  one  year,  he 
rented  the  captain's  saw  mill,  and  shortly  afterwards  purchased  it.  Since 
that  time  he  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business,  first 
in  the  firm  of  Curtis  &  King,  until  1864,  next  in  the  firm  of  Curtis  & 
Corning,  until  1870,  and  since  that  time  in  the  firm  of  L.  B.  Curtis  &  Co. 
Mr.  Curtis  was  appointed  swamp  land  State  road  commissioner  by 
Governor  Crapo  in  1867,  and  held  the  position  during  the  different  admin 
istrations  until  the  fall  of  1872,  when  he  resigned.  He  has  held  several 
other  important  offices  in  his  town  and  city,  and  has  given  universal 
satisfaction  in  all  the  positions  he  has  filled. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  247 

Niagara.  After  a  short  consultation,  it  was  agreed  to  send 
twenty  deputies.  Henry  seized  upon  this  opportunity  of  leaving 
the  country;  and,  having  received  the  permission  of  the  great 
chief  to  accompany  the  deputation,  he  did  so,  and  thereby  escaped 
from  the  hands  of  his  persecutors,  after  trials  and  tribulations 
seldom  paralleled  in  the  romance  of  Indian  history. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAC  CONTINUED — THE  PLOT  TO  DESTROY  THE  GAR 
RISON  OF  DETROIT  DISCOVERED — PONTIAC  COMMENCES  THE  SIEGE — 
CAPTAIN  CAMPBELL'S  CAPTIVITY — PONTIAC  DEMANDS  THE  SURREN 
DER  OF  THE  FORT. 

WE  NOW  turn  from  Michilimackinac  to  the  events  that  were 
transpiring  elsewhere.  On  the  fifth  of  May,  1763,  a  Canadian 
woman  left  her  home  at  Detroit,  and  passed  over  to  the  Ottawa 
village,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  obtain 
ing  a  supply  of  venison  from  the  Indians  of  that  village.  She 
noticed  several  of  the  warriors  filing  off  the  barrels  of  their  guns, 
so  as  to  reduce  them,  stock  and  all,  to  the  length  of  about  a  yard. 
Returning  home  in  the  evening,  she  told  her  neighbors  what  she 
had  seen.  This,  and  other  circumstances,  excited  the  suspicions 
of  the  Canadians  who  had  the  welfare  and  peace  of  the  commu 
nity  at  heart;  and  one  M.  Gouin,  an  old  and  wealthy  settler, 
went  to  the  commandant,  and  warned  him  to  stand  upon  his  guard, 
but  Gladwyn,  a  man  of  fearless  temper,  slighted  the  advice.  It 
is  difficult  to  determine  who  Gladwyn's  informant  was ;  but, 
before  the  next  day  had  closed,  he  was  in  possession  of  a  com 
plete  knowledge  of  the  plot,  and  actively  preparing  to  meet  the 
emergency.  On  the  following  page  we  present  an  engraving, 
which,  if  there  be  truth  in  tradition,  illustrates  the  unveiling  of 
this  conspiracy.  The  story,  as  related  to  Carver,  is  as  follows : 
In  the  Pottawattamie  village  lived  an  Ojibwa  girl,  who  could 
boast  of  a  larger  share  of  beauty  than  is  common  in  the  wigwam. 
She  had  attracted  the  eye  of  Gladwyn,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  she  loved  the  British  officer  with  all  the  ardor  of  her  untu 
tored  mind.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  sixth,  Catherine,  as  she  was 
called  by  the  officers  of  the  fort,  came  to  Detroit,  and  repaired  to 
Gladwyn's  quarters,  bringing  with  her  a  pair  of  elk-skin  mocca 
sins,  ornamented  with  porcupine  work,  which  he  had  requested 


250  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

her  to  make.  There  was  something  unusual  in  her  look  and 
manner.  Her  face  was  sad  and  downcast.  She  said  little,  and 
soon  [left  the  room ;  but  the  sentinel  at  the  door  saw  her  still 
lingering  at  the  street  corner,  though  the  hour  for  closing  the 
gates  was  nearly  come.  At  length,  she  attracted  the  notice  of 
Gladwyn  himself,  and,  calling  her  to  him,  he  pressed  her  to 
declare  what  was  weighing  upon  her  mind.  Still  she  remained 
for  a  long  time  silent ;  and  it  was  only  after  much  urgency,  and 
many  promises  not  to  betray  her,  that  she  revealed  her  momentous 
secret.  "  To-morrow,"  she  said,  "  Pontiac  will  come  to  the  fort, 
with  sixty  of  his  chiefs.  Each  will  be  armed  with  a  gun,  cut 
short,  and  hidden  under  his  blanket.  Pontiac  will  demand  to 
hold  a  council,  and,  after  he  has  delivered  his  speech,  he  will  offer 
a  peace-belt  of  wampum,  holding  it  in  a  reversed  position.  This 
will  be  the  signal  of  attack.  The  chiefs  will  spring  up  and  fire 
upon  the  officers,  and  the  Indians  in  the  street  will  fall  upon  the 
garrison.  Every  Englishman  will  be  killed,  but  not  the  scalp  of 
a  single  Frenchman  will  be  touched."  Whether  or  not  this  was 
the  true  source  of  Gladwyn's  information,  it  is  difficult  now  to 
determine ;  but  he  was,  through  some  instrumentality,  told  that 
an  attempt  would  be  made,  on  the  seventh,  to  capture  the  fort, 
through  treachery. 

He  summoned  his  officers  and  told  them  what  he  had  heard. 
The  defenses  of  the  place  occupied  a  large  area,  and  were  quite 
feeble,  and  the  garrison  was  too  weak  to  repel  a  general  assault. 
The  force  of  the  Indians  at  this  time  is  variously  estimated  at 
from  six  hundred  to  two  thousand  ;  and  the  commandant  greatly 
feared  that  some  wild  impulse  might  change  their  plans,  and  that 
they  would  storm  the  fort  before  the  morning.  Gladwyn,  accord 
ingly,  prepared  his  garrison  for  a  sudden  emergency.  He  ordered 
half  the  soldiers  under  arms,  and  the  officers  to  spend  the  night 
upon  the  ramparts.  Night  came  on,  and,  from  sunset  till  dawn, 
an  anxious  watch  was  kept  from  the  slender  palisades  of  Detroit. 
The  soldiers  were  all  ignorant  of  the  danger,  and  the  sentinels 
were  anxious  to  know  why  their  numbers  were  doubled.  Again, 
and  again,  through  that  long  and  dreary  night,  the  commandant 
mounted  his  wooden  ramparts,  and  looked  forth  into  the  gloom. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  251 

All  was  still,  save  at  intervals,  when  the  wind  bore  from  the  dis 
tance  the  sound  of  the  Indian  drum,  and  the  wild  chorus  of 
Indian  yells,  as  the  warriors  danced  the  war  dance  round  their 
camp-fires  on  Belle  Isle. 

The  night  passed  away  quietly  at  the  fort,  but,  with  the  morn 
ing,  came  evidences  of  intended  massacre.  The  sun  rose  clear, 
and  the  fresh  fields  seemed  to  smile  with  the  verdure  of  spring. 
The  morning  mists  were  scarcely  dispelled,  when  the  little  garri 
son  observed  a  fleet  of  canoes  crossing  the  river  from  the  western 
shore,  not  more  than  a  cannon  shot  above  the  fort.  Only  two  or 
three  warriors  could  be  seen  in  each,  but  the  slow  'and  steady 
motion  of  the  canoes  indicated  greater  numbers.  In  truth,  they 
were  full  of  savages,  lying  flat  upon  their  faces,  that  their  num 
bers  might  not  be  the  cause  of  suspicion  among  the  English.  As 
the  morning  advanced,  the  common  behind  the  fort  was  thronged 
with  squaws,  children  and  warriors  ;  some  naked,  and  others  dec 
orated  with  all  the  fantastic  bravery  of  savage  costume.  Many 
of  them  moved  toward  the  gate,  and  all  were  admitted;  for 
Gladwyn  determined  not  only  to  prove  to  them  that  he  had 
detected  their  plot,  but  that  he  despised  their  hostility.  The 
whole  garrison  was  ordered  under  arms;  the  merchants  closed 
their  stores,  many  of  them  arming  themselves,  with  the  intention 
of  aiding  the  garrison  in  the  defense  of  the  fort,  and  all  stood 
waiting,  in  cool  confidence,  the  result  that  was  soon  to  follow. 
Meanwhile,  Pontiac  was  approaching  along  the  river  road,  at  the 
head  of  sixty  chiefs,  all  marching  in  Indian  file.  At  ten  o'clock, 
the  great  chief  reached  the  fort,  with  his  treacherous  followers. 
All  were  wrapped  to  the  throat  in  colored  blankets.  Some  were 
crested  with  hawk,  eagle,  or  raven  plumes ;  others  had  only  the 
fluttering  scalp-lock  of  the  crown ;  while  others  wore  their  long, 
black  hair  flowing  loosely  at  their  backs,  or  wildly  hanging  about 
their  brows,  like  a  lion's  mane.  For  the  most  part  they  were  tall, 
strong  men,  and  all  had  the  gait  and  bearing  of  brave  war 
riors.  "  As  Pontiac  entered,"  says  Parkman,  "  it  is  said  that  he 
started,  and  that  a  deep  ejaculation  half  escaped  his  lips."  Well 
might  his  stoicism  fail,  for,  at  a  glance,  he  read  the  ruin  of  his 
plot.  On  either  hand,  within  the  gateway,  stood  ranks  of  sol- 


252  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

diers  and  hedges  of  glittering  steel.  The  swarthy  engages  of  the 
fur-traders,  armed  to  the  teeth,  stood  in  groups  at  the  street  cor 
ners,  and  the  measured  tap  of  a  drum  fell  ominously  on  the  ear. 
Soon  regaining  his  composure,  Pontiac  strode  forward  into  the 
narrow  streets,  and  his  chiefs  filed  after  him  in  silence,  while  the 
scared  faces  of  women  and  children  looked  out  from  the  windows 
as  they  passed.  Their  rigid  muscles  betrayed  no  signs  of  emo 
tion  ;  yet,  looking  closely,  one  might  have  seen  their  small  eyes 
glance  from  side  to  side  with  restless  scrutiny.  Traversing  the 
entire  length  of  the  little  town,  they  reached  the  door  of  the 
council  house,  a  large  building  near  the  margin  of  the  river.  On 
entering,  they  saw  Gladwyn,  with  several  of  his  officers,  seated  in 
readiness  to  receive  them,  and  the  observant  chiefs  did  not  fail  to 
remark  that  every  Englishman  wore  a  sword  at  his  side,  and  a 
pair  of  pistols  in  his  belt.  The  conspirators  eyed  each  other  with 
uneasy  glances.  "  Why,"  demanded  Pontiac,  "  do  I  see  so  many 
of  my  father's  young  men  standing  in  the  street  with  their  guns  ?" 
Gladwyn  replied,  through  his  interpreter,  La  Butte,  that  he  had 
ordered  the  soldiers  under  arms  for  the  sake  of  exercise  and  dis 
cipline.  With  delay,  and  many  signs  of  distrust,  the  chiefs  sat 
down  on  the  mats  prepared  for  them,  and,  after  the  customary 
pause,  Pontiac  rose  to  speak.  Holding  in  his  hand  the  wampum 
belt,  which  was  to  have  given  the  fatal  signal,  he  addressed  the 
commandant,  professing  strong  attachment  to  the  English,  and 
declaring,  in  Indian  phrase,  that  he  had  come  to  smoke  the  pipe 
of  peace  and  brighten  the  chain  of  friendship.  The  officers 
watched  him  keenly  as  he  uttered  these  hollow  words,  fearing 
lest,  though  conscious  that  his  designs  were  suspected,  he  might 
still  attempt  to  accomplish  them.  And  once,  it  is  said,  he  raised 
the  wampum  belt,  as  if  about  to  give  the  signal  of  attack ;  but, 
at  that  instant,  Gladwyn  signed  slightly  with  his  hand.  The 
sudden  clash  of  arms  sounded  from  the  passage  without,  and  a 
drum  rolling  the  charge,  filled  the  council  room  with  its  stunning 
din.  At  this,  Pontiac  stood  like  one  confounded.  Seeing  Glad- 
wyn's  unruffled  brow,  and  his  calm  eye  fixed  steadfastly  upon 
him,  he  knew  not  what  to  think,  and  soon  sat  down,  in  amaze 
ment  and  perplexity.  Another  pause  ensued,  and  Gladwyn  com- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


253 


menced  a  brief  reply.  He  assured  the  chiefs  that  friendship  and 
protection  should  be  extended  towards  them  as  long  as  they  con 
tinued  to  deserve  it,  but  threatened  vengeance  for  the  first  act  of 
aggression.  The  council  then  broke  up.  The  gates  of  the  fort, 


RT.  REV.  SAMUEL  A.  M'COSKRY. 

SAMUEL  A.  McCosKKY,  the  present  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
for  the  Diocese  of  Michigan,  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  Novem 
ber  (J,  1804. 


254  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

which  had  been  closed  during  the  conference,  were  again  flung 
open,  and  the  savages  were  suffered  to  depart  unmolested. 

"  Gladwyn,"  says  Parkman,  "  has  been  censured,  and,  perhaps, 
with  justice,  for  not  detaining  the  chiefs  as  hostages  for  the  good 
conduct  of  their  followers."  Perhaps  the  commandant  feared 
that,  if  he  should  arrest  the  chiefs  when  gathered  at  a  public 
council,  and  guiltless  of  open  violence,  the  act  might  be  regarded 
as  cowardly  and  dishonorable.  Further  than  this,  he  was  not 
aware  of  the  magnitude  of  the  plot.  He  regarded  the  affair  as 
one  of  those  impulsive  outbreaks,  so  common  among  the  Indians, 
and  he  hoped  that  the  threatening  cloud  would  soon  blow  over. 

Disappointed  in  his  aims  of  treachery,  Pontiac  withdrew  to  his 
village,  enraged  and  mortified,  yet  determined  to  persevere. 
After  a  consultation  with  his  chiefs,  he  resolved  to  visit  the  fort 
again ;  and,  accordingly,  on  the  following  day,  he  repaired  to  the 
council  room,  with  three  of  his  chiefs,  bearing  in  his  hand  the 
sacred  calumet,  or  pipe  of  peace.  Offering  it  to  the  commandant, 
he  addressed  him  and  his  officers  to  the  following  effect :  "  My 
fathers,  evil  birds  have  sung  lies  in  your  ears.  We  that  stand 
before  you  are  friends  of  the  English.  We  love  them  as  our 
brothers ;  and,  to  prove  our  love,  we  have  come  this  day  to  smoke 

Bishop  McCoskry's  early  studies  were  pursued  under  the  direction  of 
Major  Kearsley,  of  Detroit,  who,  after  the  war  of  1812,  took  charge  of 
the  grammar  school  in  Dickinson  College. 

In  1820,  he  received  a  cadetship  appointment  to  the  Military  Academy 
at  West  Point,  then  in  charge  of  Colonel  Thayer,  of  the  U.  8.  Engineers, 
Colonel  Worth  being  the  commandant  of  the  cadets.  He  entered  this 
institution  with  a  very  large  class,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  eight 
months,  and  found  the  discipline  and  studies  very  severe.  The  first  year 
he  was  third  in  mathematics  and  sixth  in  French,  which  made  him  rank 
fourth  in  general  average.  In  military  studies,  he  stood  with  the  first, 
and  was  appointed  a  non-commissioned  officer — the  highest  rank  he  could 
obtain  in  the  class.  He  remained  at  West  Point  nearly  two  years,  when, 
on  the  death  of  his  brother,  who  was  a  surgeon  in  the  United  States 
Army,  he  resigned  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Carlisle. 

Dickinson  College  was  then  under  the  care  of  the  celebrated  Dr.  John 
M.  Mason,  who  had  associated  with  him  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
scholars  in  the  country.  Bishop  McCoskry  passed  through  the  four  years 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  255 

the  pipe  of  peace."  When  Pontiac  left  the  fort,  he  gave  the 
pipe  to  Captain  Campbell,  as  a  further  pledge  of  his  sincerity. 

On  the  following  day,  the  ninth  of  May,  the  Indians  began  to 
congregate  on  the  common,  near  the  fort ;  and  Pontiac  advanced, 
once  more,  to  the  gate.  It  was  closed  against  him.  He  demanded 
of  the  sentinels,  in  a  haughty  manner,  an  explanation ;  but  Glad- 
wyn  replied  that  there  was  no  objection  to  the  great  chief  enter- 
.  ing,  if  he  chose ;  but  that  the  crowd  he  had  brought  with  him 
must  remain  outside.  Pontiac  asked  permission  for  his  chiefs  to 
enter  with  him,  but  to  this  he  received  a  prompt  refusal.  Pon 
tiac  then  turned  from  the  gate  in  great  rage,  and  strode  toward 
his  followers,  who  lay,  in  great  numbers,  flat  upon  the  ground, 
just  beyond  the  reach  of  gun-shot.  At  his  approach,  they  all 
leaped  up  and  ran  off  towards  the  house  of  an  English  woman, 
who  lived,  with  her  family,  on  a  distant  part  of  the  common. 
They  beat  down  the  doors,  and  rushed  in.  In  a  few  moments, 
they  had  brutally  murdered  all  the  inmates.  Another  large 
party  ran  down  to  the  river's  edge,  leaped  into  their  canoes,  and 
paddled,  with  all  speed,  to  the  Isle  au  Cochon,  where  an  English 
man,  named  Fisher,  resided.  They  dragged  him  from  his  hiding- 
place,  murdered  him  on  the  spot,  and  took  his  scalp.  Pontiac 

course  of  this  institution  in  two  years  and  three  months,  and  received 
the  fourth  honor  in  the  graduating  class. 

He  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  Jaw,  under  the  distinguished  lawyer, 
Andrew  Carothers,  Esq. ,  at  Carlisle,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in 
eighteen  months'from  the  time  he  commenced  studying.  After  practic 
ing  one  year,  he  was  appointed  deputy  attorney-general  for  his  county, 
which  position  he  held  two  years.  He  remained  at  the  bar  for  six  years, 
building  up  a  large  and  lucrative  practice. 

Having  been  for  several  years  a  member  of  St.  John's  Episcopal 
Church,  at  Carlisle,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  L.  Hare,  he  then  com 
menced  the  study  of  Divinity,  under  the  charge  of  the  Right  Reverend 
H.  IT.  Underdook,  then  Assistant  Bishop  of  Pennsylvania.  During  his 
probation  studies,  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  Christ  Church, 
Reading,  Pennsylvania,  as  a  lay  reader.  The  church  would  not  call  a 
pastor,  and  he  continued  to  officiate  in  it  for  one  year,  when  and  where 
he  was  ordained  a  Deacon  by  Bishop  Underdook.  He  was  called  to 
take  ^charge  of  the  parish  the  day  of  his  ordination,  and  remained 


256  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

had  not  taken  any  part  in  these  murders.  When  he  saw  his 
second  plan  defeated,  he  turned  towards  the  shore,  no  man  daring 
to  follow  him  in  his  terrible  mood.  Pushing  a  canoe  from  the 
bank,  he  paddled  it  to  the  opposite  shore,  where  stood  a  village 
of  the  Ottawas.  Arriving  at  this  place,  he  ordered  the  inhabit 
ants  to  cross  the  stream,  and  encamp  on  the  western  shore,  that 
the  river  might  no  longer  interpose  a  barrier  between  his  followers 
and  the  English.  Preparation  for  the  removal  was  made  at 
once;  but,  before  the  embarkation,  Pontiac  delivered  his  great 
war  speech.  He  was  surrounded  by  his  warriors,  who,  catching 
his  enthusiasm,  commenced  the  hideous  war  dance,  circling  round 
and  round,  with  frantic  gestures,  and  startling  the  distant  garri 
son  with  their  unearthly  yells.  When  this  performance  was  over, 
the  work  of  transporting  the  tribe  and  their  movables  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river  was  commenced ;  and,  long  before  the 
morning,  the  transfer  was  completed.  The  whole  Ottawa  popu 
lation  crossed  the  river,  and  pitched  their  wigwams  on  the  western 
side,  just  above  Parent's  Creek,  afterwards  appropriately  named 
Bloody  Run.  During  the  same  evening,  fresh  news  of  disaster 
reached  the  fort.  Two  English  officers,  Sir  Robert  Davers  and 
Captain  Robertson,  had  been  waylaid  and  murdered  by  the 
Indians,  above  Lake  St.  Clair.  The  same  messenger  declared 


its  pastor  one  year,  when  he  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  St.  Paul's 
Church,  in  Philadelphia,  which  invitation  he  accepted  at  the  earnest 
solicitation  of  Bishop  White,  remaining  in  the  parish  two  years. 

At  the  close  of  this  time,  he  was  nominated  by  the  same  Bishop  to  the 
Bishopric  of  Michigan,  and  the  nomination  was  concurred  in  by  the 
Bishops,  and  he  was  consecrated  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Philadelphia, 
July  7,  1836. 

He  entered  upon  his  duties  as  Bishop  of  Michigan  and  Rector  of  St. 
Paul's  Church,  Detroit,  on  the  28th  of  August,  1836.  Bishop  McCoskry 
performed  these  twofold  duties,  without  an  assistant,  for  twenty-seven 
years,  when  he  was  relieved  of  the  care  of  a  parish,  sufficient  funds 
having  been  provided  to  support  him  as  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  with 
out  other  labors. 

In  the  discharge  of  the  responsible  work  of  this  important  position, 
Bishop  McCoskry  has  continued  in  uninterrupted  good  health,  and  with  a 
thankful  heart  for  the  help  of  God  in  his  labors. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


257 


that  Pontiac  had  just  been  reinforced  by  a  large  band  of  Ojibwas, 
from  Saginaw  Bay. 

Every  man  in  the  fort  was  now  ordered  under  atms,  and  the 
little  garrison  spent   the  night  full  of  anxiety,  expecting  every 


HON.   S.   M.   GREEN. 

SANFORD  M.  GREEN,  of  Bay  City,  was  born  May  30,  1807,  at  Grafton, 
iiensselaer  county,  N.  Y.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the  Greens  of  Rhode 
Island. 

His  father  was  a  farmer  of  limited  estate,  and  uneducated.  He  per 
mitted  this  son  to  purchase  his  time  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  and  at 
that  early  age,  he  left  the  parental  roof.  During  the  next  three  years  he 
labored  on  a  farm  for  wages,  and  applied  himself  to  study  in  the  inter 
vals  of  labor,  under  a  private  instructor.  Up  to  this  time,  he  had  never 
had  any  instruction  in,  nor  given  any  attention  to,  geography  or  English 
17 


258  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

moment  to  hear  the  war-whoop  under  the  walls  of  the  fort. 
Gladwyn  walked  the  ramparts  throughout  the  whole  night,  for  he 
had  now  begun  to  have  serious  apprehensions  for  the  fate  of  his 
command.  The  night  was  quiet,  but,  with  the  dawn,  came  a  burst 
of  Indian  yells,  and  in  a  moment  the  warriors  swarmed  to  the 
attack.  The  bullets  from  the  savage  guns  rapped  hard  and  fast 
against  the  palisades,  and  the  soldiers  within  flew  to  their  posts, 
expecting  that  the  Indians  would  make  a  rush  against  the  weak 
barrier  that  surrounded  them.  The  savages  were  firing  from 
behind  hills,  trees,  barns,  or  whatever  afforded  them  shelter,  and 
the  guns  of  the  fort  replied  with  steadiness,  and,  in  some 
instances,  with  good  effect.  A  short  distance  from  the  fort 
stood  a  cluster  of  out-buildings,  behind  which  a  large  number 
of  Indians  found  shelter  and  opportunity  to  harass  the  garrison. 
A  cannon  was  brought  to  bear  upon  them,  loaded  with  red-hot 
spikes.  The  buildings  once  in  flames,  the  Indians  ran  toward  the 
woods,  yelping  with  rage.  The  assault  continued  for  six  hours  ^ 
until,  seeing  their  efforts  were  futile,  the  Indians  slackened  their 

grammar.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  had  qualified  himself  to  teach, 
though  he  had  only  attended  school,  and  that  a  common  school,  for  three 
months.  For  two  years  he  taught  school  in  winter  and  continued  to 
labor  on  a  farm  through  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

In  1829,  he  commenced  the  study  of  law,  and,  in  the  same  year,  cast 
his  first  vote  for  President  Jackson.  He  read  law  for  a  time  with 
Geo.  C.  Sherman,  and  afterwards  with  Judge  Ford,  eminent  lawyers  of 
New  York;  still  later,  he  pursued  his  reading  in  the  office  of  Stirling  & 
Bronson,  .of  Watertown. 

Having  pursued  his  studies  for  five  years,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
as  an  attorney  at  law  and  solicitor  in  chancery.  He  went  into  practice 
at  Brownville,  N.  Y.,  and  pursued  it  there  until  1835,  when  he  removed 
to  the  city  of  Rochester,  where  he  became  partner  of  the  late  Hon.  H.  L. 
Stevens.  On  Mr.  Stevens  removing  to  Michigan,  a  year  afterwards,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  I.  A.  Eastman,  Esq.,  with  whom  he  continued 
until  1837.  In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  became  interested  in  the  land 
on  which  the  city  of  Owosso,  Michigan,  has  since  been  built,  and  went 
there  to  reside.  He  assisted  in  laying  the  foundation  of  that  thriving 
town,  and  continued  to  live  there  for  six  years.  During  this  period,  he 
held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace,  supervisor,  assessor  of  a  school 
district  and  prosecuting  attorney  of  Shiawassee  county. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  259 

wild  yells,  and  retired.  During  this  engagement,  five  of  the 
British  had  been  wounded,  while  the  injury  sustained  by  the 
Indians  was  but  trifling. 

The  garrison  was  once  more  enjoying  peace,  when  Gladwyn, 
still  deeming  the  attack  which  they  had  just  suffered  was 
only  an  outburst  of  Indian  restlessness,  and,  being  in  great 
want  of  provisions,  determined  to  open  negotiations  with  the 
Indians  by  which  he  might  be  able  to  obtain  the  necessary  sup 
plies.  La  Butte,  the  interpreter  of  the  fort,  was  despatched  to 
the  camp  of  the  great  chief  with  a  message  from  Gladwyn,  offer 
ing  to  redress  any  real  grievances  of  which  he  might  complain. 
Two  old  Canadians,  named  Chapeton  and  Godefroy,  offered  to 
accompany  the  interpreter,  and  advance  any  measure  looking 
toward  a  peace  between  the  Indians  and  the  English.  The  gates 
of  the  fort  were  now  thrown  open,  and  the  three  deputies 
departed,  to  hold  an  interview  with  the  Indian  king.  Pontiac 
received  them  with  kindness.  La  Butte  delivered  his  message, 
and  Pontiac  seemed  much  pleased  with  his  offer,  when  the  inter 
preter  withdrew,  leaving  the  two  Canadians  to  urge  the  case  still 

At  the  election,  in  1842,  he  was  elected  State  senator,  and  served  for 
two  years.  At  the  close  of  his  term  as  senator,  in  1844,  he  was  appointed 
by  the  chancellor  and  judges  of  the  supreme  court  to  revise  the  statutes  of 
the  State,  and  was  required  to  report  his  revision  at  the  commencement 
of  the  legislative  session  of  1846.  He  served,  during  this  term,  in  the 
Senate  as  chairman  of  the  judiciary  committee.  As  such  he  reported  the 
bill  providing  for  that  revision,  and  for  the  appointment,  by  the  governor, 
of  a  commissioner  to  prepare  it.  The  bill  was  passed  by  the  Senate 
in  this  form.  After  it  went  to  the  House  the  question  was  started,  who 
should  be  appointed  commissioner.  Senator  Green  was  the  general 
choice;  but,  under  the  bill  which  he  reported,  and  as  it  passed  the  Sen 
ate,  he  was  ineligible,  as  the  then  constitution  prohibited  the  appointment 
by  the  governor  of  any  person  to  an  office  created  by  the  Legislature  of 
which  he  was  a  member.  To  obviate  this  objection,  the  House  amended 
the  bill  so  as  to  transfer  the  appointing  power  to  the  judiciary,  and  the 
amendment  was  concurred  in  by  the  Senate.  His  appointment  was 
recommended  by  the  entire  Senate,  with  one  or  two  exceptions,  and  by 
all  the  professional  men  in  the  House. 

In  1843,  he  removed  to  Pontiac,  and  there  he  prepared  his  revision. 
It  was  reported  at  the  time  prescribed;  was  adopted  by  the  Legislature, 


260  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

further.  Returning  to  the  fort,  he  informed  the  commander  that 
the  Indians  could  be  easily  pacified  by  giving  them  a  few  pres 
ents  ;  but,  when  he  returned  to  the  Indian  camp,  he  found,  to  his 
great  dissatisfaction,  that  his  companions  had  made  no  progress 
with  the  chief  whatever.  Although  professing  a  strong  desire  for 
peace,  he  haughtily  refused  to  accept  any  definite  proposal. 
When  La  Butte  again  returned,  all  the  Indian  chiefs  withdrew, 
to  hold  a  consultation  among  themselves.  After  a  short  absence, 
they  returned,  and  Pontiac  declared  that,  wishing  to  come  to  a 
satisfactory  understanding,  he  and  his  chiefs  desired  to  hold  a 
council  with  their  English  fathers  themselves.  This  seemed  a 
very  reasonable  proposition,  and  the  deputies  returned  to  the  fort 
and  cheerfully  announced  Pontiac's  request.  They  stated  that 
the  chiefs  would  be  satisfied  to  negotiate  with  Captain  Campbell, 
with  whom  they  had  always  been  on  the  most  friendly  terms. 
When  Gladwyn  heard  this,  he  suspected  treachery,  and  advised 
Captain  Campbell  not  to  go ;  but  the  latter  gentleman,  feeling  a 
confidence  in  his  influence  with  the  Indians,  urged  the  command 
ant  to  permit  him  to  comply  with  Pontiac's  request.  At  length, 

with,  some  amendments,  and  went  into  effect  March  1st,  1847.  He  was 
reelected  to  the  Senate  immediately  before  making  his  report. 

On  the  resignation  of  Judge  Ransom,  in  1848,  after  his  election  as  gov 
ernor,  and  the  transfer  of  Judge  Whipple  to  the  third  circuit  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  .Judge  Green  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the  fourth  cir 
cuit  as  Judge  Whip  pie's  successor.  In  this  position  of  circuit  judge, 
and  ex.  offitio  judge  of  the  supreme  court,  of  which  he  was  presiding  judge 
for  two  years,  he  served  until  the  reorganization  of  the  latter  court  in 
1858.  After  this  change  in  the  judiciary,  he  continued  to  hold  the  office 
of  circuit  judge  of  the  sixth  circuit,  until  1867,  when  he  resigned.  He 
immediately  removed  to  Bay  City,  and  thenceforth  devoted  himself  to 
the  practice  of  the  law,  until  he  was  appointed,  in  June,  1872,  circuit 
judge  of  the  eighteenth  circuit,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of 
Judge  Greer.  In  this  position  he  is  still  acting. 

In  1860,  he  prepared  and  published  a  work  on  the  practice  of  the  circuit 
courts.  An  edition  of  twelve  hundred  copies  was  issued,  and  so  eagerly 
was  it  sought  for  by  the  profession,  that  nearly  every  copy  has  been  sold. 

The  important  and  conspicuous  part  performed  by  Judge  Green,  offi 
cially  and  otherwise,  in  giving  judicious  form  and  system  to  the  statutes 
and  the  practice  of  the  courts  of  this  State,  and  in  improving  its  general 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  261 

lie  gave  his  consent,  and  Campbell  left  the  fort,  accompanied  by 
Lieutenant  McDougal,  La  Butte,  and  several  Canadians.  When 
the)'-  reached  the  Indian  camp,  Pontiac  came  forward  and  shook 
them  by  the  hand,  and  led  them  to  his  camp,  where,  mats  being- 
spread  for  the  purpose,  he  ordered  them  to  be  seated.  Instantly, 
the  lodge  was  thronged  with  savages.  Pontiac  spoke  a  few  words, 
when  the  usual  pause  ensued.  This  was  ended  by  Campbell,  who 
addressed  the  Indians  in  a  short  speech.  It  was  heard  in  per 
fect  silence,  and  fully  an  hour  passed  before  the  Indians  made 
any  reply,  or  turned  their  scrutinizing  gaze  from  the  officers.  At 
length,  Captain  Campbell,  conscious  of  the  danger  which  threat 
ened  him,  and  being  determined  to  fully  ascertain  his  true  position, 
rose,  and  signified  his  intention  of  returning  to  the  camp.  At 
this,  Pontiac  made  a  sign  that  he  should  resume  his  seat,  and 
said,  "  My  father  will  sleep  to-night  in  the  lodges  of  his  red  chil 
dren." 

The  Indians  were  resolved  to  kill  Campbell  and  his  English 
companions  on  the  spot,  but  Pontiac  would  not  allow  them  to  do 
so.  He  protected  them  from  injury  and  insult,  and  conducted 
them  to  the  house  of  M.  Meloche,  near  Parent's  Creek,  where  decent 


jurisprudence,  is  worthy  of  a  more  extended  notice  than  is  admissible  in 
this  brief  memoir. 

The  revised  statutes  of  1846  have  remained  now  for  a  quarter  of  a  cen 
tury,  and  no  effort  has  been  made  to  supersede  it  by  another.  Two  com 
pilations  have  been  made  to  bring  together  in  convenient  form  the 
numerous  changes  made  necessary  by  national  events,  by  the  expanding 
enterprise  of  the  times,  and  the  rapid  development  of  cur  local  resources, 
but  the  general  features  of  that  revision  remain.  His  judicial  record, 
for  over  twenty  years  as  a  nisi  prim  judge,  and  for  ten  years  in  the  court 
of  last  resort,  is  creditable  alike  to  the  State  and  to  him.  The  opinions  of 
the  court  prepared  and  read  by  him,  published  in  the  first  four  volumes 
of  the  Michigan  Reports,  are  clear  and  forcible  in  style;  they  show  a 
thorough  acquaintance  with  the  subjects  involved,  a  modest  deference  to 
the  current  of  decisions  by  other  courts,  a  clear  perception  of  the  ethical 
philosophy  of  the  law,  a  constant  appreciation  of  its  great  purpose,  and 
a  bold  adherence  to  recognized  principles.  These  contain  the  results  of 
his  mature  judgment  after  deliberate  consideration.  But  he  has  exhi 
bited,  in  his  long  service  at  the  circuit,  a  wider  range  of  judicial  qualities 
than  can  be  called  into  exercise  in  a  purely  appellate  court.  He  possesses 


262  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

quarters  were  assigned  them.  Their  danger  was  diminished  by 
the  fact  that  Gladwyn,  at  the  same  time,  detained  two  Indians, 
for  some  offense,  as  prisoners  in  the  fort.  When  La  Butte 
returned  to  the  fort,  and  informed  the  commandant  of  the  deten 
tion  of  the  officers,  a  sadness  and  melancholy  pervaded  the  whole 
garrison. 

Pontiac  now  began  operations  with  greater  vigor  than  ever. 
Receiving  additional  reinforcements,  he  made  several  changes  in 
the  disposition  of  his  forces.  A  band  of  warriors  were  ordered 
to  lie  in  wait  along  the  river  bank,  below  the  fort,  while  others 
concealed  themselves  in  the  woods.  Another  band  was  stationed 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  fort.  These  were  ordered  to  conceal 
themselves,  and  shoot  down  any  soldier  or  trader  who  might  hap 
pen  to  expose  his  person,  when  no  general  attack  was  in  progress. 
These  arrangements  were  completed  on  the  eleventh  of  May, 
1763,  when  a  number  of  Canadians  visited  the  fort,  and  advised 
the  commandant  to  abandon  the  post,  saying  that  it  would  be 
stormed,  in  less  than  an  hour,  by  fifteen  hundred  Indians.  Glad 
wyn  refused,  and,  in  half  an  hour  afterward,  the  savages  renewed 
the  attack  on  the  fort.  This  was  kept  up  till  evening,  when  the 

rare  qualifications  for  the  nisi  prius  bench,  for  the  trial  of  questions  of 
fact.  His  analytical  mind  enables  him  at  once  to  put  aside  what  is  for 
eign  to  the  subject  of  inquiry,  and  to  so  classify  the  material  evidentiary 
facts,  as  to  disentangle  the  most  intricate  case,  and  bring  order  out  of 
apparent  chaos.  His  knowledge  of  the  law  is  profound;  he  has  mastered 
and  digested  it  as  a  great  moral  science.  In  the  administration  of  it,  he 
is  ready  without  being  precipitate,  dignified  without  austerity,  patient 
and  attentive  to  arguments,  and  independent  and  uniformly  impartial  in 
his  decisions.  He  is  ever  serene  and  self-possessed,  however  the  bustle 
and  excitement  of  important  trials  may  affect  parties,  counsel  or  the  pub 
lic.  He  is  popular  with  the  profession,  and  enjoys  the  fullest  confidence 
of  the  public.  On  his  retirement  from  the  bench,  in  1867,  he  was  ten 
dered  a  public  dinner  at  Pontiac,  and  the  festive  occasion  was  empha 
sized  by  the  presentation  of  a  beautiful  silver  service,  with  toasts  and 
speeches  abounding  in  compliments,  well  merited,  and  which  had  the 
ring  of  "well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant."  Nor  is  Judge  Green 
a  mere  judge  or  jurist;  his  reading  has  been  extensive.  He  is,  in  short, 
a  man  of  refinement  and  general  culture,  of  broad  and  liberal  views, 
social,  public  spirited — a  just  and  good  man.  S. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  263 

Indians  retired.  Soon  after,  a  Canadian  visited  the  fort,  with  a 
summons  from  Pontiac,  demanding  Gladwyn  to  surrender  the  post 
at  once,  and  promising  that,  in  case  of  compliance,  the  English 
should  be  allowed  to  go  on  board  of  their  vessels  unmolested, 
leaving  their  arms  and  effects  behind.  To  this  the  commandant 
gave  a  flat  refusal. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAC  CONTINUED — A  COUNCIL  AMONG  THE  OFFICERS 
OF  THE  FORT  OF  DETROIT — GLADWYN  DETERMINES  TO  HOLD  OUT 
—  DIFFICULTY  BETWEEN  PONTIAC  AND  THE  FRENCH  — FATE  OF 
CUTLER'S  EXPEDITION  —  THE  HORRORS  OF  INDIAN  WARFARE 
THICKENING  AROUND  DETROIT. 

THE  officers  of  the  fort  of  Detroit  now  assembled  to  consider 
what  measures  would  be  most  advisable  in  the  emergency.  It  is 
recorded  that  Gladwyn  was  alone  in  the  opinion  that  the  defense 
of  the  place  should  be  continued — the  others  urging  the  policy  of 
an  immediate  surrender  and  embarkation  for  Niagara.  Their 
condition  was,  indeed,  a  deplorable  one.  The  provisions  on  hand 
would  not  sustain  the  garrison  more  than  three  weeks,  *  within 
which  time  it  was  madness  to  hope  for  succor.  But  this  was  not 
their  only  source  of  fear.  The  wooden  houses  of  the  fort  were 
thatched  with  straw,  and  might  be  set  on  fire,  and  the  enemy 
might  make  a  general  onset,  and  cut  or  burn  their  way 
through  the  pickets.  Kesistance  would  then  be  useless.  "  Day 
after  day,"  says  Parkman,  "  the  Indians  continued  their  attacks, 
until  their  war  cries  and  the  rattle  of  their  guns  became  familiar 
sounds.  For  many  weeks  no  man  lay  down  to  sleep,  except  in 
his  clothes,  and  with  his  weapons  by  his  side.  Parties  of  volun 
teers  sallied,  from  time  to  time,  to  burn  the  out-buildings,  which 
gave  shelter  to  the  enemy.  They  cut  down  orchard  trees  and  lev 
eled  fences,  until  the  ground  about  the  fort  was  clear  and  open, 
and  the  enemy  had  no  cover  left  from  whence  to  fire.  The  two 
vessels  in  the  river,  sweeping  the  northern  and  southern  curtains 
of  the  works  with  their  fire,  deterred  the  Indians  from  approach 
ing  those  points,  and  gave  material  aid  to  the  garrison.  Still, 
worming  their  way  through  the  grass,  the  pertinacious  savages 
would  crawl  close  to  the  palisades,  and  shoot  arrows,  tipped 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


265 


with  burning  tow,  upon  the  roofs  of  the  houses ;  but  water  was 
everywhere  provided  against  such  an  emergency,  and  these 
attempts  proved  abortive.  The  little  church,  which  stood  near 
the  palisades,  was  particularly  exposed,  and  would  probably  have 


HON.  MOSES  B.  HESS. 

MOSES  B.  HESS,  an  enterprising  citizen  of  East  Saginaw,  was  born  in 
the  town  of  Verona,  Oneida  county,  New  York,  July  3,  1821. 

At  ten  years  of  age,  lie  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  took  up  his  residence 
at  Hartland,  Livingston  county,  where  he  worked  on  a  farm  until  he 
removed  to  Brighton,  in  the  same  county.  Here  he  served  two  years  in 
the  copper,  tin  and  sheet-iron  business. 

In  1847,  and  before  the  State  buildings  were  erected,  he  moved  to 
Lansing,  where  he  was  assistant  postmaster  and  State  librarian  until 


266  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

been  set  on  fire,  had  not  the  priest  of  the  settlement  threatened 
Pontiac  with  the  vengeance  of  the  Great  Spirit,  should  he  be 
guilty  of  such  sacrilege.  Pontiac  neglected  no  expedient  that  his 
savage  tactics  could  supply.  He  went  further,  and  begged  the 
French  inhabitants  to  teach  him  the  European  method  of  attack 
ing  a  fortified  place  by  regular  approaches  ;  but  the  rude  Cana 
dians  knew  as  little  of  the  matter  as  he ;  or  if,  by  chance,  a  few 
were  better  informed,  they  wisely  preferred  to  conceal  their 
knowledge.  Soon  after  the  first  attack,  the  ^Ottawa  chief  had 
sent  in  to  Gladwyn  a  summons  to  surrender ;  assuring  him  that, 
if  the  place  were  at  once  given  up,  he  might  embark  on  board 
the  vessels,  with  all  his  men,  but  that,  if  he  persisted  in  his 
defense,  he  would  burn  him  alive.  To  this  Gladwyn  made  answer 
that  he  cared  nothing  for  his  threats.  The  attacks  were  now 
renewed  with  increased  activity;  and  the  assailants  were  soon 
after  inspired  with  fresh  ardor  by  the  arrival  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty  Ojibwas.  Every  man  in  the  fort  now  slept  upon  the 
ramparts,  yet  confidence  and  cheerfulness  still  prevailed  among 
the  weary  garrison." 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  assistance  of  a  few  Canadians,  who 
lived  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  who  provided  the  gar 
rison  with  food,  Detroit  would  have  been  abandoned,  or  destroyed. 

1850.  His  services  in  the  latter  office  were  such  as  to  merit  and  receive 
a  special  resolution  of  thanks  from  the  State  senate. 

In  1850,  he  removed  to  what  is  now  East  Saginaw,  and  still  makes  that 
his  home.  From  that  time,  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
growth  of  that  portion  of  our  prosperous  State.  When  he  settled  there, 
Buena  Vista  included  what  is  now  East  Saginaw,  Buena  Vista  and 
Blumfield. 

He  has  held  the  offices  of  supervisor,  town  clerk,  school  inspector  and 
highway  commissioner.  He  was  treasurer  of  the  village  of  East  Saginaw 
two  terms,  and,  while  in  that  office,  paid  every  order  when  presented, 
often  using  his  own  personal  funds  to  do  it.  Mr.  Hess  was  also  register 
of  the  United  States  land  office  for  several  years,  and  as  such  was  faith 
ful  and  vigilant,  and  contributed  largely  to  turning  the  tide  of  emigration 
to  this  State  and  removing  the  false  opinions  prevalent  about  its  health  - 
fulness  and  natural  resources. 

He  was  one  of  the  few  who,  in  1858-59,  had  implicit  faith  in  the  saline 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  26? 

These  supplies  were  carried  to  the  fort  in  boats,  at  night,  with 
out  exciting  the  suspicion  of  the  Indians.  No  sooner  had  the 
garrison  been  relieved  from  apprehensions  of  immediate  famine, 
than  the  Indians  themselves  began  to  suffer  from  hunger.  Think 
ing  to  have  taken  Detroit  at  a  single  stroke,  they  had  neglected 
to  provide  against  the  exigencies  of  a  siege,  and  now,  in  small 
parties,  they  plundered  the  Canadian  families  along  the  river 
shore.  These  acts  called  forth  a  remonstrance  from  the  Canadian 
settlers,  and  a  number  of  them  visited  the  camp  of  the  great 
Ottawa  chief,  and  urged  him  to  prevent  their  continuance.  He 
yielded  to  their  requests ;  and,  in  order  to  effectually  put  a  stop 
to  his  young  men  committiDg  further  depredations,  Pontiac 
organized  a  commissary  department.  He  visited,  in  person,  all 
the  Canadian  families ;  and,  inspecting  the  property  belonging  to 
them,  he  assigned  to  each  the  share  of  provisions  which  it  must 
furnish.  The  contributions  thus  levied  were  all  collected  at  the 
house  of  M.  Meloche,  Pontiac's  headquarters,  and  the  prison  of 
Captain  Campbell  and  his  companions. 

Pontiac,  not  wishing  to  offend  the  French,  and  being  unable  to 
make  compensation  for  the  provisions  he  had  exacted,  had 
recourse  to  a  remarkable  expedient.  He  issued  promissory  notes, 
drawn  upon  birch  bark,  signed  with  the  figure  of  an  otter,  the 

resources  of  the  Saginaw  Valley,  and  his  energy,  influence  and  money 
contributed  largely  toward  getting  the  legislation  and  capital  to  sink  the 
first  well  of  the  East  Saginaw  Salt  Manufacturing  Company.  The  success 
of  this  adventure,  which  contributed  more  to  the  prosperity  and  marvel 
ous  growth  of  that  region  than  any  other  one  thing,  is  too  well  known  to 
need  comment  here. 

Mr.  Hess  was  a  pioneer  in  the  work  of  dredging  out  the  Saginaw  river, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  movers  and  a  director  of  the  East  Saginaw  Street 
Railway. 

He  has  always  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  for  many  years 
was  a  prominent  politician  in  local  and  State  affairs.  For  several  years 
his  ill  health  has  kept  him  from  all  participation  in  public  matters,  but 
this  has  not  prevented  him  from  taking  a  deep  interest  in  all  public  and 
private  improvements. 

In  both  public  and  private  life,  by  his  energy,  uprightness,  faithfulness 
and  candor  he  won  and  retained  the  esteem  of  all. 


268  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

"  totem  "  to  which  he  belonged,  and  it  is  authoritatively  recorded 
that  they  were  all  faithfully  redeemed. 

The  measures  the  chief  had  adopted  allayed  the  anger  of  the 
French,  and  contributed  largely  to  his  own  welfare.  None  of  his 
followers  would  cross  the  cultivated  fields  of  the  French,  but 
always  followed  the  beaten  paths,  as  Pontiac  had  commanded 
them. 

But  we  will  now  turn  to  the  work  of  the  siege.  "  While  perils 
were  thickening  around  the  garrison  at  Detroit,"  says  Parkman, 
"  the  British  commander-in-chief,  at  New  York,  remained  igno 
rant  of  its  danger.  Indeed,  an  unwonted  quiet  had  prevailed,  of 
late,  along  the  borders,  and  about  the  neighboring  forts.  With 
the  opening  of  spring,  a  strong  detachment  had  been  sent  up  the 
lakes,  with  a  supply  of  provisions  and  ammunition,  for  the  use  of 
Detroit,  and  other  western  posts.  The  boats  of  this  convoy  were 
now  pursuing  their  course  along  the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
and  Gladwyn's  garrison,  aware  of  their  approach,  awaited  their 
arrival  with  an  anxiety  which  every  day  increased.  Day  after 
day  passed  on,  and  the  red  cross  of  St.  George  still  floated  above 
Detroit.  The  keen-eyed  watchfulness  of  the  Indians  had  never 
abated,  and  woe  to  the  soldier  who  showed  his  head  above  the 
palisades,  or  exposed  his  person  before  a  loop-hole.  Strong  in  his 
delusive  hope  of  French  assistance,  Pontiac  had  sent  messengers 
to  M.  Neyon,  commandant  at  the  Illinois,  earnestly  requesting 
that  a  force  of  regular  troops  might  be  sent  to  his  aid  ;  and  Glad- 
wyn,  on  his  side,  had  ordered  one  of  the  vessels  to  Niagara,  to 
hasten  forward  the  expected  convoy.  The  schooner  set  sail ;  but, 
on  the  next  day,  as  she  lay  becalmed  at  the  entrance  of  Lake 
Erie,  a  multitude  of  canoes  suddenly  darted  out  upon  her  from 
the  neighboring  shores.  In  the  prow  of  the  foremost  the  Indians 
had  placed  their  prisoner,  Captain  Campbell,  with  the  dastardly 
purpose  of  interposing  him.  as  a  screen  between  themselves  and 
the  fire  of  the  English.  But  the  brave  old  man  called  out  to  the 
crew  to  do  their  duty,  without  regard  to  him.  Happily,  at  that 
moment,  a  fresh  breeze  sprang  up,  and  the  schooner  bore  prosper 
ously  on  her  course  towards  Niagara,  leaving  the  savage  flotilla 
far  behind.  The  fort,  or,  rather,  town  of  Detroit,  had  by  this 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN. 


269 


time  lost  its  wonted  vivacity  and  life.  Its  narrow  streets  were 
gloomy  and  silent.  Here  and  there  strolled  a  Canadian,  in  red 
cap  and  gaudy  sash  ;  the  weary  sentinel  walked  to  and  fro  before 
the  quarters  of  the  commandant ;  an  officer,  perhaps,  passed 


HON.  JAMES^  BIRNEY. 

JAMES  BIRNEY  is  a  native  of  Danville,  Kentucky,  and  the  eldest  son  of 
the  late  James  G.  Birney.  His  collegiate  education  was  obtained  at 
Centre  College,  Kentucky,  and  at  Miami  University,  Ohio.  At  the  latter 
institution  he  graduated  in  1836.  During  the  two  succeeding  years  he 
was  employed  in  the  University  as  professor  of  the  Greek  and  Latin 
languages. 

During  the  next  two  years  he  attended  the  law  lectures  of  Judge  Stom 
and  Professor  Hitchcock,  of  the  law  school  of  Yale  College,  at  New 
Haven,  Connecticut. 


270  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

along,  with  rapid  step  and  anxious  face ;  or  an  Indian  girl,  the 
mate  of  some  soldier  or  trader,  moved  silently  by,  in  her  finery  of 
beads  and  vermilion.  Such  an  aspect  as  this  the  town  must  have 
presented  on  the  morning  of  the  thirtieth  of  May,  when,  at  about 
nine  o'clock,  the  voice  of  the  sentinel  sounded  from  the  southeast 
bastion,  and  loud  exclamations  in  the  direction  of  the  river, 
roused  Detroit  from  its  lethargy.  Instantly,  the  place  was  astir. 
Soldiers,  traders  and  inhabitants,  hurrying  through  the  water- 
gate,  thronged  the  canoe  wharf  and  the  narrow  strand  without. 
The  half-wild  courgurs  des  bois,  the  tall  and  sinewy  provincials, 
and  the  stately  British  soldiers,  stood  crowded  together,  their 
uniforms  soiled  and  worn,'  and  their  faces  haggard  with  unremit 
ting  watching.  Yet,  all  alike  wore  an  animated  and  joyous  look. 
The  long-expected  convoy  was  full  in  sight.  On  the  farther  side 
of  the  river,  at  some  distance  below  the  fort,  a  line  of  boats  was 
rounding  the  woody  projection,  then  called  Montreal  Point,  their 
oars  flashing  in  the  sun,  and  the  red  flag  of  England  flying  from 
the  stern  of  the  foremost.  The  toils  and  dangers  of  the  garrison 
were  drawing  to  an  end.  With  one  accord  they  broke  into  three 
hearty  cheers,  again  and  again  repeated ;  while  a  cannon,  glanc 
ing  from  the  bastion,  sent  its  loud  voice  of  defiance  to  the  enemy, 
and  welcome  to  approaching  friends.  But,  suddenly,  every  cheek 
grew  pale  with  horror.  Dark,  naked  figures  were  seen  rising,  with 

Subsequently  Mr.  Birney  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  the  law.  He  devoted  himself  to  this  business  for 
eleven  years,  and  acquired  a  desirable  position  in  the  profession. 

Mr.  Birney,  while  in  New  Haven,  married  Miss  Moulton,  step-daughter 
of  Nathaniel  Bacon,  Esq.,  of  that  city.  Of  this  marriage  there  were  five 
children,  the  eldest  of  whom  distinguished  himself  in  the  army  as 
Captain  in  the  7th  Regiment  of  Michigan  Volunteers,  and  died  while  an 
officer  of  the  U.  S.  regular  army. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Birney  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  for  the 
Saginaw  district;  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  public  instruction, 
and  a  member  of  the  judiciary  committee  of  that  body. 

In  1860,  he  was  nominated  by  the  State  Republican  Convention  to  the 
office  of  lieutenant-governor  and  elected  by  a  majority  of  over  20,000. 
By  virtue  of  this  office]  he  became  president  of  the  State  Senate,  and  as 
a  presiding  officer  received  great  favor. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  271 

wild  gestures,  in  the  boats,  while,  in  place  of  the  answering 
salute,  the  distant  yell  of  the  war-whoop  fell  faintly  on  their 
ears.  The  convoy  was  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  boats 
had  all  been  taken,  and  the  troops  of  the  detachment  slain,  or 
made  captive.  Officers  and  men  stood  gazing,  in  mournful 
silence,  when  an  incident  occured  which  caused  them  to  forget 
the  general  calamity  in  the  absorbing  interest  of  the  moment. 

Leaving  the  disappointed  garrison,  we  will  pass  over  to  the  prin 
cipal  victims  of  this  deplorable  misfortune.  In  each  of  the  boats, 
of  which  there  were  eighteen,  two  or  more  of  the  captured  sol 
diers,  deprived  of  their  weapons,  were  compelled  to  act  as  rowers, 
guarded  by  several  armed  savages,  while  many  other  Indians,  for 
the  sake  of  further  security,  followed  the  boats  along  the  shore. 
In  the  foremost,  as  it  happened,  there  were  four  soldiers,  and  only 
three  Indians.  The  larger  of  the  two  vessels  still  lay  anchored 
in  the  stream,  about  a  bow-shot  from  the  fort,  while  her  com 
panion,  as  we  have  seen,  had  gone  down  to  Niagara,  to  hasten  up 
this  very  reinforcement.  As  the  boat  came  opposite  this  vessel, 
the  soldier  who  acted  as  steersman  conceived  a  daring  plan  of 
escape.  The  principal  Indian  sat  immediately  in  front  of  another 
of  the  soldiers.  The  steersman  called,  in  English,  to  his  comrade 
to  seize  the  savage  and  throw  him  overboard.  The  man  answered 

While  he  was  lieutenant-governor,  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  office  of 
circuit  judge  for  the  district  of  which  he  was  a  resident.  The  governor 
tendered  the  appointment  to  him,  and  it  was  accepted.  He  presided  as 
circuit  judge  during  the  next  four  years.  He  was  unanimously  renomin- 
ated  by  the  Republican  Judicial  Convention,  but  the  district  having  a 
Democratic  majority  he  has  not  elected. 

After  serving  as  judge,  Mr.  Birney  returned  to  the  practice  of  the  law. 

In  1871,  he  established  the  Bay  City  Chronicle  as  a  weekly  Republican 
paper.  In  June,  1873,  he  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Morning 
Chronicle. 

In  1872,  Governor  Baldwin  nominated  Mr.  Birney  to  President  Grant 
as  Centennial  Commissioner  for  Michigan  to  celebrate  the  Hundredth 
Anniversary  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  1876. 

Mr.  Birney  is  now  residing  at  Bay  City,  and  is  devoting  himself  to  the 
care  of  his  estate  and  the  editorial  duties  of  the  daily  and  weekly  Chronicle. 
His  son  Arthur  M.  Birney  is  associated  with  him  in  business. 


272  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES 

that  he  was  not  strong  enough ;  on  which  the  steersman  directed 
him  to  change  places  with  him,  as  if  fatigued  with  rowing — a 
movement  which  would  excite  no  suspicion  on  the  part  of  their 
guard.  As  the  bold  soldier  stepped  forward,  as  if  to  take  his 
companion's  oar,  he  suddenly  seized  the*  Indian  by  the  hair, 
and,  griping  with  the  other  hand  the  girdle  at  his  waist,  lifted 
him  by  main  force,  and  flung  him  into  the  river.  The  boat 
rocked  till  the  water  surged  over  her  gunwale.  The  Indian 
held  fast  to  his  enemy's  clothes,  and,  drawing  himself  upward,  as 
he  trailed  alongside,  stabbed  him  again  and  again  with  his  knife, 
and  then  dragged  him  overboard.  Both  went  down  the  swift 
current,  rising  and  sinking ;  and,  as  some  relate,  perished,  grap 
pled  in  each  other's  arms.  The  two  remaining  Indians  leaped 
out  of  the  boat.  The  prisoners  turned,  and  pulled  for  the  distant 
vessel,  shouting  aloud  for  aid.  The  Indians  on  shore  opened  a 
heavy  fire  upon  them,  and  many  canoes  paddled  swiftly  in  pur 
suit.  The  men  strained  with  desperate  strength.  A  fate  inex 
pressibly  horrible  was  the  alternative.  The  bullets  hissed  thickly 
around  their  heads  ;  one  of  them  was  soon  wounded,  and  the 
light,  birch  canoes  gained  on  them  with  fearful  rapidity.  Escape 
seemed  hopeless,  when  the  report  of  a  cannon  burst  from  the  side 
of  the  vessel.  The  ball  flew  close  past  the  boat,  beating  the 
water  in  a  line  of  foam,  and  narrowly  missing  the  foremost  canoe. 
At  this,  the  pursuers  drew  back  in  dismay ;  and  the.  Indians  on 
shore,  being  further  saluted  by  a  second  shot,  ceased  firing,  and 
scattered  among  the  bushes.  The  prisoners  soon  reached  the  ves 
sel,  where  they  were  greeted  as  men  snatched  from  the  jaws  of 
fate  ;  "  a  living  monument,"  writes  an  officer  of  the  garrison, 
"  that  fortune  favors  the  brave."  They  related  many  particulars 
of  the  catastrophe  which  had  befallen  them  and  their  companions. 
Lieutenant  Cuyler  had  left  Fort  Niagara  as  early  as  the  thir 
teenth  of  May,  and  embarked  from  Fort  Schlosser,  just  above  the 
Falls,  with  ninety-six  men,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  provisions 
and  ammunition.  Day  after  day  he  had  coasted  the  northern 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  and  seen  neither  friend  nor  foe  amid  those 
lonely  forests  and  waters,  until,  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  the 
month,  he  landed  at  Point  Pelee,  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the 


274  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

River  Detroit.  The  boats  were  drawn  on  the  beach,  and  the 
party  prepared  to  encamp.  A  man  and  a  boy  went  to  gather  fire 
wood,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  spot,  when  an  Indian  leaped 
out  of  the  woods,  seized  the  boy  by  the  hair,  and  tomahawked 
him.  The  man  ran  into  camp  with  the  alarm.  Cuyler  immedi 
ately  formed  his  soldiers  into  a  semi-circle  before  the  boats.  He 
had  scarcely  done  so  when  the  enemy  opened,  their  fire.  For  an 
instant,  there  was  a  hot  blaze  of  musketry  on  both  sides ;  then  the 
Indians  broke  out  of  the  woods  in  a  body,  and  rushed  fiercely 
upon  the  center  of  the  line,  which  gave  way  in  every  part,  the 
men  flinging  down  their  guns,  running  in  a  blind  panic  to  the 
boats,  and  struggling,  with  ill-directed  efforts,  to  shove  them  into 
the  water.  Five  were  set  afloat,  and  pushed  off  from  the  shore, 
crowded  with  the  terrified  soldiers.  Cuyler,  seeing  himself,  as 
he  says,  deserted  by  his  men,  waded  up  to  his  neck  in  the  lake, 
and  climbed  into  one  of  the  retreating  boats.  The  Indians,  on 
their  part,  pushing  two  more  afloat,  went  in  pursuit  of  the  fugi 
tives,  three  boat-loads  of  whom  allowed  themselves  to  be  re-cap 
tured,  without  resistance  ;  but  the  remaining  two,  in  one  of  which 
was  Cuyler  himself,  made  their  escape.  They  rowed  all  night, 
and  landed  in  the  morning  upon  a  small  island.  Between  thirty 
and  forty  men,  some  of  whom  were  wounded,  were  crowded  in 
these  two  boats ;  the  rest,  about  sixty  in  number,  being  killed  or 
taken.  Cuyler  now  made  for  Sandusky,  which,  on  his  arrival,  he 
found  burnt  to  the  ground.  Immediately  leaving  the  spot,  he 
rowed  along  the  south  shore  to  Presque  Isle ;  from  whence  he  pro 
ceeded  to  Niagara,  and  reported  his  loss  to  Major  Wilkins,  the 
commanding  officer.  The  actors  in  this  bold  and  well  executed 
stroke  were  the  Wyandots,  who,  for  some  days,  had  lain  in 
ambush  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  to  intercept  trading  boats,  or 
parties  of  troops.  Seeing  the  fright  and  confusion  of  Cuyler's 
men,  they  had  forgotten  their  usual  caution,  and  rushed  upon 
them  in  the  manner  described.  The  ammunition,  provisions,  and 
other  articles  taken  in  this  attack,  formed  a  valuable  prize ;  but, 
unfortunately,  there  was,  among  the  rest,  a  great  quantity  of 
whisky.  This  the  Indians  seized,  and  carried  to  their  respective 
camps,  which,  throughout  the  night,  presented  a  scene  of  savage 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN.  275 

revelry  and  riot.  Dormant  jealousies  were  awakened ;  old,  for 
gotten  quarrels  kindled  afresh ;  and,  had  not  the  squaws  taken 
the  precaution  of  hiding  all  the  weapons  they  could  find,  before 
the  debauch  began,  much  blood  would,  no  doubt,  have  been  spilt. 
As  it  was,  many  were  wounded,  of  whom  two  died  in  the  morning ; 
and  several  others  had  their  noses  bitten  off — a  singular  mode  of 
revenge,  much  in  vogue  upon  similar  occasions  among  the  Indians 
of  the  upper  lakes.  The  English  were  gamers  by  this  scene  of  riot ; 
for,  late  in  the  evening,  two  Indians,  in  all  the  valor  and  vainglory 
of  drunkenness,  came  running  directly  towards  the  fort,  boasting 
their  prowess  in  a  loud  voice ;  but,  being  greeted  with  two  rifle 
bullets,  they  leaped  into  the  air,  like  a  pair  of  wounded  bucks, 
and  fell  dead  on  their  tracks.  It  will  not  be  proper  to  pass 
over  in  silence  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate  men  taken  prisoners  in 
this  affair.  After  night  had  set  in,  several  Canadians  came  to  the 
fort,  bringing  vague  and  awful  reports  of  the  scenes  that  had 
been  enacted  at  the  Indian  camp.  A  cloud  of  deep  gloom  sank 
down  upon  the  garrison  ;  and  none  could  help  reflecting  how 
thin  and  frail  a  barrier  protected  them  from  a  similar  fate.  On 
the  following  day,  and  for  several  succeeding  days,  they  beheld 
frightful  confirmation  of  the  rumors  they  had  heard.  Naked 
corpses,  gashed  with  knives  and  scorched  with  fire,  floated  down 
on  the  pure  waters  of  the  Detroit,  whose  fish  came  up  to  nibble 
at  the  clotted  blood  that  clung  to  their  ghastly  faces. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAC  CONTINUED — FATE  OF  THE  FOREST  GARRISON 
— THE  MASSACRE  AT  FORT  ST.  JOSEPH — THE  FATE  OF  SANDUSKT, 
MIAMI,  OUATANON,  PRESQUE  ISLE,  LE  BOETJF,  AND  VENANGO — THE 
REIGN  OF  BLOOD  AND  HAVOC — THE  BLOODY  WORK  OF  THE  GREAT 
PONTIAC  AND  His  TREACHEROUS  FOLLOWERS. 

SUCH  was  the  work  of  death  and  desolation  around  the  forest 
garrisons,  in  1763 — such  the  scenes  enacted  on  the  soil  of  Michi 
gan  one  hundred  years  ago.  But  we  must  hasten  to  close  our 
narrative  of  Pontiac  and  his  woeful  war,  as  other  events  of  great 
importance  must  not  be  crowded  out ;  and  in  this  we  will  be 
guided  by  the  authority  of  Francis  Parkman.  Late  one  after 
noon  in  May,  1763,  the  garrison  were  again  greeted  with  the 
dismal  cry  of  death,  and  a  host  of  naked  warriors  was  seen  issu 
ing  from  the  woods  in  the  rear  of  the  fort.  Each  savage  was 
painted  black,  and  each  bore  a  scalp,  fluttering  from  the  end  of  a 
pole.  It  was  now  plain  that  some  new  disaster  delighted  the 
blood-thirsty  savages ;  and,  in  truth,  this  was  so ;  for,  during  the 
same  evening,  news  reached  the  fort  that  Sandusky  had  been 
taken,  and  all  its  garrison  slain,  or  made  prisoners.  This  post 
had  been  attacked  by  the  Wyandots,  living  in  its  neighborhood, 
aided  by  a  detachment  from  the  army  of  Pontiac.  Among  the 
few  survivors  of  the  slaughter  was  the  commanding  officer,  Ensign 
Paully,  who  had  been  conducted  to  Detroit  by  the  savages,  bound 
hand  and  foot,  and  assured  on  the  passage  that  he  would  be 
burnt  alive,  beside  the  camp  of  the  great  chief.  .On  being  taken 
to  the  lodge  of  Pontiac,  he  was  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  Indians, 
who  pelted  him  with  stones,  and  forced  him  to  dance  and  sing. 
A  worse  infliction  seemed  in  store  for  him,  when,  happily,  an  old 
woman,  whose  husband  had  lately  died,  chose  to  adopt  him,  in 
place  of  the  deceased  warrior.  Seeing  no  alternative  but  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


277 


stake,  Paully  accepted  the  proposal;  and,  having  been  first 
plunged  in  the  river,  to  wash  the  white  blood  from  his  veins,  he 
was  conducted  to  the  lodge  of  the  widow,  and  treated  thence 
forth  with  all  the  consideration  due  an  Ottawa  warrior.  The  gar- 


M.   S.   SMITH. 

MARTIN  S.  SMITH,  the  senior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  M.  S.  Smith  & 
•Co.,  the  present  leading  jewelers  of  Detroit,  was  born  in  Lima,  Livings 
ton  county,  State  of  New  York,  in  1834.  At  an  early  age  he  came  to 
Michigan  in  company  with  his  parents.  In  1859,  Mr.  Smith  established 
himself  in  the  jewelry  business  in  Detroit,  and  has  conducted  since  that 
time,  or  from  a  period  not  long  after,  the  leading  jewelry  establishment 
in  Michigan. 

In  the  summer  of  1868,  he  visited  Europe,  and  returned  in  the  follow 
ing  autumn,  an  importer  of  jewelry  and  such  other  goods  as  are  usually 


278  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

rison  at  Detroit  soon  received  a  letter  from  him,  through  a 
Canadian,  giving  a  full  account  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Sandusky, 
which  had  taken  place  on  the  sixteenth  of  the  same  month. 

A  brief  account  of  the  surprise  of  this  fort  is  as  follows : 
Paully,  the  commandant,  was  informed  that  seven  Indians  were 
waiting  at  the  gate  to  see  him.  As  several  of  the  number  were 
well  known  to  him,  he  ordered  them  to  be  admitted.  Arriving 
at  his  headquarters,  two  of  his  treacherous  visitors  seated  them 
selves  on  each  side  of  the  commandant,  while  the  rest  were  dis 
posed  in  various  parts  of  the  room.  The  pipes  were  lighted,  and 
the  conversation  began  ;  when  an  Indian,  who  stood  in  the  door 
way,  suddenly  made  -a  signal,  by  raising  his  head.  Upon  this, 
the  astonished  officer  was  instantly  pounced  upon  and  disarmed  ; 
while,  at  the  same  moment,  a  confused  noise  of  shrieks  and  yells, 
the  firing  of  guns,  and  the  hurried  tramp  of  feet,  sounded  from 
the  area  of  the  fort  without.  This  soon  ceased,  and  Paully,  led  by 
his  captors  from  the  room,  saw  the  parade  ground  strewn  with 
the  corpses  of  his  murdered  garrison.  During  the  night,  he  was 
conducted  to  the  margin  of  the  lake,  where  several  birch  canoes 
lay  in  readiness ;  and,  when  the  party  had  pushed  out  from  the 
shore,  Paully  looked  back  through  the  darkness,  to  see  the  fort, 


associated  with  gold  and  silver  wares.  About  this  time,  a  new  spirit  of 
enterprise  seized  the  people,  and  the  commerce  of  Detroit  was  nearly 
doubled  in  every  important  branch.  Consequent  upon  this  interchange 
with  the  outside  world  came  all  the  wholesome  characteristics  of  refined 
society. 

With  this  favorable  combination  of  circumstances  and  events,  it  is  not 
a  difficult  matter  to  account  for  Mr.  Smith's  great  success  in  business.  In 
1860,  it  may  be  observed,  his  sales  touched  only  the  modest  figures  of 
$17,000,  but  with  a  steady  increase,  year  after  year,  reached  the  astound 
ing  sum  of  $300,000  in  1872.  A  natural  accompaniment  of  this  commercial 
prosperity  was  the  exchange  of  a  small  store,  occupied  at  the  time  of 
purchasing  the  establishment,  for  the  magnificent  house  on  the  corner  of 
Woodward  and  Jefferson  avenues  which  he  now  occupies.  This  building 
is  richly  ornamented  with  a  large  stock  of  American  and  imported 
jewelry,  bronzes,  etc.,  comprising  one  of  the  most  complete  establish 
ments  of  the  kind  in  the  Northwest. 

Mr.  Smith's  deportment  in  business  transactions  has  been  such  as  to 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  279 

lately  under  bis  command,  bursting  on  all  sides  in  sheets  of  flame. 
Such  was  the  fate  of  Sandusky,  in  1763. 

Detroit  was  next  startled  with  the  news  of  the  massacre  of  the 
garrison  at  Fort  St.  Joseph.  This  was  on  the  fifteenth  of  June, 
when  the  soldiers  noticed  a  number  of  Indians  approaching  the 
gate  of  the  fort,  bringing  with  them  four  English  prisoners ;  who 
proved  to  be  Ensign  Schlosser,  lately  commanding  at  St.  Joseph's, 
together  with  three  private  soldiers.  The  Indians  wished  to 
exchange  them  for  several  of  their  own  tribe,  who  had  been,  for 
nearly  two  months,  prisoners  in  the  fort.  After  some  delay,  this 
was  effected ;  and  the  garrison  then  learned  the  unhappy  fate  of 
their  friends.  St.  Joseph  stood  near  the  mouth  of  the  river 
bearing  the  same  name,  near  the  head  of  Lake  Michigan.  The 
garrison  of  that  post  seemed  to  have  apprehended  no  danger, 
when,  on  the  twenty-fifth  of  May,  early  in  the  morning,  the  officer 
was  informed  that  a  large  party  of  Pottawattamies,  of  Detroit, 
had  come  to  pay  a  visit  to  their  relations  of  that  place.  Pres 
ently,  a  chief,  named  Washashe,  with  three  or  four  followers, 
visited  the  commandant's  quarters,  as  if  to  hold  a  council ;  and 
soon  after,  a  Canadian  arrived,  with  the  intelligence  that  the  fort 
was  surrounded  by  Indians,  who  evidently  had  hostile  intentions. 


win  the  highest  confidence  of  the  whole  public,  and  already  the  people 
are  pointing  to  him  with  messages  of  public  trust.  He  has  been  for  some 
time  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Police  Commissioners  and  Vice-President 
of  the  Detroit  Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Company.  He  is  also  director  in 
the  Wayne  County  Savings  Bank,  director  in  the  American  National 
Bank,  American  Plate  Glass  Company,  and  in  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company. 

Mr.  Smith  went  forth  from  a  humble  home  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
unaccompanied  by  assistance.  From  these  obscure  beginnings,  by  that 
perseverance  which  secures  good  will  as  well  as  material  prosperity,  he 
has  done  much  to  promote  the  commerce  of  Michigan,  and  secured  fame 
as  a  merchant  of  Detroit.  The  character  of  his  business  has  had  a  most 
salutary  influence  on  society.  When  the  first  waves  of  civilization  broke 
away  the  coldness  of  pioneer  life,  or  the  dignity  of  increasing  wealth 
sent  forth  the  demands  for  new  luxuries,  he  was  among  the  first  to  sup 
ply  these  wants,  or  even  by  keeping  in  advance  of  them  to  create  a  taste 
for  the  more  expensive  characteristics  of  refinement. 


280  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

At  this,  Schlosser  ran  out  of  the  apartment,  and,  crossing  the 
parade,  which  was  full  of  Indians  and  Canadians,  hastily  entered 
the  barracks.  These  were  also  crowded  with  savages,  very  inso 
lent  and  disorderly.  While  busying  himself  in  getting  his  men 
under  arms,  he  heard  a  wild  cry  from  within  the  barracks. 
Instantly,  all  the  Indians  in  the  fort  rushed  to  the  gate,  toma 
hawked  the  sentinel,  and  opened  a  free  passage  to  their  comrades 
without.  In  less  than  two  minutes,  eleven  men  were  killed,  and 
himself,  with  the  three  survivors,  made  prisoners,  and  bound  fast. 
They  were  then  conducted  to  Detroit,  as  already  shown.  Three 
days  after  these  tidings  were  received,  the  news  of  the  massacre 
at  Michilimackinac  came  to  the  fort.  Of  this  terrible  event  we 
have  already  given  a  full  account  in  a  previous  chapter. 

News  of  disaster  was  now  the  order  of  the  day,  and  the  wea 
ried  garrison  seemed  to  read  their  own  fate  in  every  tale  of 
woe.  Next  came  the  tidings  of  the  fate  of  Ouatanon,  a  fort 
situated  on  the  Wabash,  a  little  below  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  Lafayette.  Lieutenant  Jenkins  commanded  at  this  fort ; 
and,  on  the  first  of  June,  he  and  his  garrison  were  made  prison 
ers  by  the  surrounding  Indians,  who  spared  their  lives. 

Close  upon  these  tidings  came  the  news  that  Fort  Miami  was 
taken.  This  post  stood  on  the  Maumee  River,  and  was  com 
manded  by  Ensign  Holmes,  who  suspected  the  intention  of  the 
savages,  and  was,  therefore,  on  his  guard.  On  the  twenty-seventh 
of  May,  a  young  Indian  girl,  who  lived  with  him,  told  him  that 
a  squaw  lay  dangerously  ill  in  a  wigwam,  near  the  fort,  and 
urged  him  to  come  to  her  relief.  Having  confidence  in  the  girl, 
Holmes  forgot  his  caution,  and  followed  her  out  of  the  fort. 
When  Holmes  came  in  sight  of  the  Indian  wigwams,  the  Indian 
girl  pointed  out  the  lodge  in  which  the  sick  woman  lay.  When 
he  drew  near  the  lodge,  two  guns  flashed  from  behind  the  hut, 
and  he  fell  lifeless  on  the  grass.  The  shots  were  heard  at  the 
fort,  and  the  Sergeant  rashly  went  out  to  learn  the  cause  of  the 
firing.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  once,  amid  a  tumult  of  Indian 
war  whoops.  The  soldiers  in  the  fort  were  next  summoned  to 
surrender,  with  a  promise  that,  if  they  did  so,  their  lives  would  be 
spared,  but  that  otherwise  they  would  all  be  killed,  without 
mercy.  The  terrified  men  gave  themselves  up  as  prisoners. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  281 

The  news  of  the  loss  of  Presque  Isle  reached  Detroit  on  the 
twentieth  of  June.  This  fort  stood  on  the  southern  shore  of 
Lake  Erie,  at  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Erie,  and  was  com 
manded  by  Ensign  Christie.  After  a  long  and  formidable  resist 
ance,  he  surrendered  to  the  Indians.  One  Gray  escaped,  while 
the  rest  were  conducted  prisoners  to  Detroit.  Christie  soon 
after  effected  his  escape,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  fort  at 
Detroit  in  safety.  After  Presque  Isle,  Le  Boeuf  and  Venango 
shared  its  fate  ;  while  farther  south,  at  the  forks  of  the  Ohio,  a 
host  of  Indian  warriors  were  gathering  round  Fort  Pitt,  and 
blood  and  havoc  reigned  along  the  whole  frontier. 

We  will  now  return  to  Detroit,  and  follow  the  half-famished 
garrison  through  their  sufferings  and  their  battles.  We  will  also 
see  what  became  of  Captain  Campbell  and  his  companions,  who, 
when  sent  as  deputies  from  Gladwyn,  were  detained  by  the  great 
Pontiac,  and  lodged  as  prisoners  in  the  house  of  M.  Meloche,  near 
Parent's  Creek. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAC  CONTINUED— THE  SIEGE  OF  DETROIT — ADVEN 
TURE  OF  A  BRITISH  SCHOONER  ON  THE  DETROIT  RIVER — MODE  OF 
INDIAN  WARFARE  —  PONTIAC  INVITING  THE  FRENCH  TO  JOIN  HIS 
ARMY — ANOTHER  COUNCIL — EXCHANGE  OF  PRISONERS. 

ON  THE  nineteenth  of  June,  a  rumor  reached  Detroit  that  one 
of  the  vessels  had  been  seen  near  Turkey  Island,  several  miles 
below  the  fort.  It  will  be  remembered  that  this  vessel  had,  sev 
eral  weeks  before,  gone  down  Lake  Erie  to  hasten  the  advance  of 
Cuyler's  expected  detachment.  She  passed  these  troops  on  her 
way,  and  sailed  to  Niagara,  where  she  remained  until  the  return 
of  Cuyler,  with  the  remnant  of  his  men.  After  the  latter  had 
related  his  sad  mishap,  he  was  ordered  to  embark  in  the  vessel 
that  had  come  from  Detroit,  with  as  many  soldiers  as  could  be 
spared  from  the  fort  at  Niagara,  and  return  to  Detroit.  This 
order  had  been  carried  out,  and  now,  as  the  rumor  purported,  the 
vessel  was  near  the  point  of  her  destination,  although  the  most 
dangerous  part  of  the  journey  was  yet  to  be  traversed.  The 
river  channel  was,  in  many  places,  narrow,  and  more  than  eight 
hundred  Indians  were  on  the  alert  to  intercept  their  passage. 
Several  days  passed,  and  no  tidings  of  the  expected  craft  reached 
the  garrison ;  when,  on  the  twenty -third,  a  great  commotion  was 
visible  among  the  Indians,  a  large  portion  of  whom  were  seen  to 
pass  along  the  outskirts  of  the  woods,  in  the  rear  of  the  fort. 
The  cause  of  this  movement  could  not  be  conjectured  till  evening, 
when  a  Frenchman  arrived  at  the  fort,  with  the  intelligence  that 
the  vessel  was  again  attempting  to  ascend  the  river,  and  that  all 
the  Indians  had  gone  to  attack  her.  Upon  this,  two  cannon  were 
fired,  that  the  crew  might  know  that  Detroit  was  still  in  the 
hands  of  the  English  ;  and  now  all  remained  in  great  anxiety  as 
.to  the  result.  The  schooner  soon  began  to  move  slowly  up  the 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


283 


river,  with  a  gentle  breeze.  About  sixty  men  were  crowded  on 
board,  of  whom  only  ten  or  twelve  were  visible  on  deck.  The 
officers  had  ordered  the  rest  to  lie  hidden  below,  in  hopes  that  the 
Indians,  encouraged  by  their  apparent  weakness,  might  make 


HON.  JAMES  TURRILL. 

JAMES  TUKRILL,  of  Lapeer,  was  born  in  Shoreham,  Addison  county, 
Vermont,  September  24,  1797. 

Leaving  his  father's  farm  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  engaged  in 
general  merchandising  in  his  native  town,  and  at  Bridport,  in  the  same 
county.  Mr.  Turrill  pursued  his  mercantile  labors  in  the  two  places 
above  mentioned,  with  very  gratifying  and  remunerative  results,  until 
1836,  when  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  invested  extensively  in  lands  at 
and  near  the  present  nourishing  city  of  Lapeer.  Returning  to  Vermont, 
he  continued  his  business  until  1842,  when  he  brought  out  his  family, 
consisting  of  his  wife  and  eight  children — three  sons  and  five  daughters — 


284  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

an  open  attack.  Just  before  reaching  the  narrowest  part  of  the 
channel,  the  wind  died  away,  and  the  anchor  was  dropped. 
Immediately  above,  and  within  gun-shot  of  the  vessel,  the  Indians 
had  thrown  up  a  breastwork  of  logs,  carefully  concealed  by 
bushes,  on  the  shore  of  Turkey  Island.  Here  they  lay,  in  great 
force,  waiting  for  the  schooner  to  pass.  Ignorant  of  this,  but  still 
cautious  and  wary,  the  crew  kept  a  strict  watch  from  the  moment 
the  sun  went  down.  Hours  wore  on,  and  nothing  had  disturbed 
the  deep  repose  of  the  night.  At  length,  the  sentinel  could  dis 
cern,  in  the  distance,  various  moving  objects  upon  the  dark  sur 
face  of  the  water.  The  men  were  ordered  up  from  below,  and  all 
took  their  posts  in  perfect  silence.  The  blow  of  a  hammer  on  the 
mast  was  to  be  the  signal  to  fire.  The  Indians,  gliding  steadily 
over  the  water,  had  advanced  to  within  a  few  rods  of  their  sup 
posed  prize,  wrhen,  suddenly,  the  dark  side  of  the  slumbering 

and  located  in  the  village  of  Lapeer.  Here  he  again  turned  his  attention 
to  mercantile  affairs,  dealing  largely  in  real  estate  at  the  same  time.  Suc 
cess  attended  his  efforts,  and  after  a  lapse  of  thirteen  years  he  retired 
from  active  business,  and  has  since  given  his  attention  to  the  cultivation 
of  his  farms  and  the  management  of  his  pine  land  interests.  He  is  now, 
and  has  been  for  some  time,  one  of  the  banking  firm  of  R  G.  Hart  &  Co. 
He  was  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Port  Huron  &  Lake  Michigan  Rail 
road,  and  aided  largely  with  his  means  and  advice,  at  a  time  when  others 
were  quite  discouraged,  in  getting  it  completed  from  Port  Huron  to 
Flint.  After  that  was  done  he  retired  from  the  directorship,  at  his  own 
request,  but  remained  quite  active  and  efficient  in  the  work. 

Although  Mr.  Turrill  has  never  been  ambitious  for  public  life,  still  his 
fellow-citizens  have  seen  fit  on  several  occasions  to  place  him  in  positions 
of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  several  times  elected  one  of  the  trustees,  and 
afterwards  president  of  the  village  of  Lapeer,  and  upon  its  incorporation 
as  a  city,  he  was  chosen  its  first  mayor.  Mr.  Turrill  was  also  elected  to 
the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  Legislature  in  the  fall' of  1848, 
and  served  in  that  body  during  the  sessions  of  1848-9.  During  the  war 
he  took  an  active  part  in  putting  down  the  rebellion,  and  his  eldest  son, 
Capt.  J.  Henry  Turrill,  a  brave  and  noble-hearted  officer  of  the  7th  Michi 
gan  Infantry,  lost  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Antietam. 

In  manner  Mr.  Turrill  is  dignified,  but  not  overbearing.  He  is  a  man 
of  strict  integrity,  liberal  in  the  support  of  religious  and  charitable  insti 
tutions,  and  gives  with  a  free  hand  to  the  poor  and  needy. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


285 


vessel  burst  into  a  blaze  of  cannon  and  musketry.  Grape  and 
musket  shot  flew  tearing  among  the  canoes,  destroying  several  of 
them,  killing  fourteen  Indians,  wounding  as  many  more,  and  driv 
ing  the  rest  in  consternation  to  the  shore.  Recovering  from  their 


EZRA   RUST. 

EZRA  RUST,  of  Saginaw  City,  was  born  September  23,  1832,  at  the 
town  of  Wells,  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  When  he  was  five  years  of 
age,  his  parents  removed  to  Newport,  St.  Clair  county,  Michigan.  They 
were  in  limited  circumstances  and  unable  to  provide  him  with  an  educa 
tion  beyond  that  afforded  by  the  common  schools  of  the  place.  His 
advantages,  though  limited,  were  thoroughly  improved.  He  developed 
a  strong  taste  for  mechanics  in  his  boyhood,  and,  before  he  was  sixteen 
years  of  age,  was  employed  as  second  engineer  of  the  steamer  Pacific; 
and  such  was  his  skill  and  ability  that  in  his  seventeenth  year  he  was 


286  GENERAL   HtSTOJlY   OP   THE   STATES. 

surprise,  they  began  to  fire  upon  the  vessel  from  behind  their 
breastwork,  upon  which  she  weighed  anchor,  and  dropped  down, 
once  more,  beyond  their  reach,  into  the  broad  river.  Several 
days  afterwards  she  attempted  to  ascend.  This  time  she  met  with 
better  success.  As  she  passed  the  Wyandot  village,  she  sent  a 
shower  of  grape  among  its  yelping  inhabitants,  by  which  several 
were  killed ;  and  then,  furling  her  sails,  lay  peaceably  beside  her 
companion,  abreast  of  the  fort.  She  brought  to  the  garrison  a 
much  needed  supply  of  men,  ammunition  and  provisions.  She 
bore,  also,  the  important  tidings  that  peace  had  been  concluded 
between  France  and  England.  The  great  struggle  of  the  French 
war,  which  had  disturbed  the  peace  of  the  whole  continent  of 
North  America  since  the  year  1755,  although  virtually  ended  on 
the  Plains  of  Abraham,  and  by  the  junction  of  the  three  British 
armies  at  Montreal,  was  not  completely  settled  till  the  formal 
treaty  of  peace.  To  most  of  the  French  this  peace  was  odious. 
They  went  about  among  the  settlers  and  Indians,  declaring  that 
the  pretended  news  of  peace  was  only  an  invention  of  Major 
Gladwyn ;  that  the  King  of  France  would  never  abandon  his 
children ;  and  that  a  great  French  army  was  even  then  ascending 
the  St.  Lawrence,  while  another  was  approaching  from  the  country 
of  the  Illinois.  These  Indians  believed  these  falsehoods,  and 
thus  the  war  continued.  Pontiac  himself  clung  to  this  delusive 
hope,  and  began  the  work  of  subduing  the  fort  with  renewed 

promoted  to  the  position  of  first  engineer  of  the  same  steamer.  During 
the  three  following  years  he  held  the  same  situation  on  the  steamer 
Arctic.  In  1854,  he  was  transferred  to  the  E.  K.  Collins,  and  was  first 
engineer  of  that  ill-fated  steamer  when  she  was  burned  near  Maiden,  in 
the  same  year. 

For  the  three  years  following,  he  was  engaged  in  manufacturing  lum 
ber  for  his  brothers,  A.  &  D.  W.  Rust,  at  their  mill  in  Newport.  In  the 
summer  of  1858,  his  health  failing,  he  went  to  Cuba,  where  he  remained 
nearly  a  year,  employed  as  an  engineer  upon  Aldama's  sugar  estate, 
"Santa  Rosa." 

Upon  his  return,  in  1359,  he  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  James 
Hay,  under  the  firm  name  of  Rust  &  Hay,  in  the  business  of  lumbering 
upon  the  tributaries  of  the  Saginaw  river,  and  since  that  time  he  has 
resided  in  Saginaw. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  287 

vigor.  He  sent  a  message  to  Gladwyn,  urging  him  to  surrender, 
and  advising  him  of  the  expected  arrival  of  eight  hundred  Ojib- 
was,  who,  he  said,  would  take  the  scalp  of  every  Englishman  in 
the  fort.  To  this  advice  Gladwyn  returned  a  brief  and  con 
temptuous  answer. 

Pontiac  now  resolved  to  gain  the  assistance  of  the  French 
inhabitants,  and  for  this  purpose  he  called  them  together  in  coun 
cil.  Near  the  camp  of  the  Ottawas,  the  French  inhabitants  and 
Indians,  headed  by  Pontiac,  were  convened.  All  was  silent,  and 
several  pipes  were  passing  round  from  hand  to  hand,  when  Pontiac 
rose  and  threw  down  a  war-belt  at  the  feet  of  the  Canadians,  and 
spoke  as  follows : 

"  My  brothers,  how  long  will  you  suffer  this  bad  flesh  to  remain 
on  your  lands  ?  I  have  told  you  before,  and  I  now  tell  you  again, 
that  when  I  took  up  the  hatchet,  it  was  for  your  good.  This  year 
the  English  must  all  perish  throughout  Canada.  The  Master  of 
Life  commands  it ;  and  you,  who  know  him  better  than  I,  wish  to 
oppose  his  will.  Until  now,  I  have  said  nothing  on  this  matter. 
I  have  not  urged  you  to  take  part  with  us  in  the  war.  It  would 
have  been  enough  had  you  been  content  to  sit  quiet  on  your  mats, 
looking  on  while  we  wrere  fighting  for  you.  But  you  have  not 
done  so.  You  call  yourselves  our  friends,  and  yet  you  assist  the 
English  with  provisions  and  go  about  as  spies  among  our  villages. 
This  must  not  continue.  You  must  be  either  wholly  French  or 
wholly  English.  If  you  are  French,  take  up  that  war-belt  and 

In  1861,  he,  in  company  with  others,  sunk  a  salt  well  and  constructed 
works  for  the  manufacture  of  salt,  which  business  he  carried  on  success 
fully  for  two  years  following. 

In  the  year  of  1865,  the  firm  of  Rust,  Eaton  &  Co.  was  formed,  with 
Mr.  Rust  at  its  head,  and  he  has,  until  the  present  time,  continued  to 
manage  the  extensive  business  of  that  firm,  as  well  as  that  of  Rust  &  Hay, 
with  unvarying  success. 

As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Rust  is  distinguished  for  his  quick  and  correct 
perception  and  prompt  decision — his  unswerving  honesty  and  unerring 
judgment.  He  is  possessed  of  fine  social  qualities  and  a  sympathetic 
nature,  which  manifests  itself  in  kindness  to  his  employes  to  a  remark 
able  degree.  He  is  justly  entitled  to  a  prominent  position  among  the 
successful  and  wealthy  lumbermen  of  Michigan. 


288  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

lift  the  hatchet  with  us ;  but  if  you  are  English,  then  we  declare 
war  upon  you.  My  brothers,  I  know  this  is  a  hard  thing.  We 
are  all  alike  children  of  our  great  father,  the  King  of  France,  and 
it  is  hard  to  fight  among  brethren  for  the  sake  of  dogs.  But 
there  is  no  choice.  Look  upon  that  belt  and  let  us  hear  your 
answer." 

One  of  the  Canadians  replied,  holding  a  copy  of  the  capitula 
tion  of  Montreal  in  his  hand  : 

"  My  brothers,  you  must  first  untie  the  knot  with  which  our 
great  father,  the  King,  has  bound  us.  In  this  paper,  he  tells  all 
his  Canadian  children  to  sit  quiet  and  obey  the  English  until  he 
comes,  because  he  wishes  to  punish  his  enemies  himself.  We  dare 
not  disobey  him,  for  then  he  would  be  angry  with  us.  And  you, 
my  brethren,  who  speak  of  making  war  upon  us  if  we  do  not  do 
as  you  wish,  do  you  think  you  could  escape  his  wrath  if  you 
should  raise  the  hatchet  against  his  French  children.  He  would 
treat  you  as  enemies,  and  not  as  friends,  and  you  would  have  to 
fight  both  English  and  French  at  once.  Tell  us,  my  brethren, 
what  can  you  reply  to  this  ?  " 

For  some  moments  Pontiac  remained  silent,  when  a  rough 
Canadian  trapper  came  forward  and  took  up  the  belt,  much  to  the 
disgust  of  the  better  class  of  the  French  present.  He  and  his 
comrades  joined  the  Indians,  but  this  could  not,  in  the  least 
degree,  be  construed  as  indicating  that  the  French  inhabitants  of 
Detroit  had  joined  their  Indian  friend  in  the  war. 

On  the  following  night,  a  party  of  these  renegades,  joined  by 
about  an  equal  number  of  Indians,  approached  the  fort  and 
intrenched  themselves  in  order  to  fire  upon  the  garrison.  At  day 
break,  they  were  observed,  the  gate  was  thrown  open,  and  a  file  of 
men,  headed  by  Lieutenant  Hay,  sallied  forth  to  dislodge  them. 
This  was  effected  without  much  difficulty.  This  party  had  retired 
to  the  fort,  when,  at  about  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  man 
was  seen  running  towards  it,  closely  pursued  by  Indians.  On  his 
arriving  within  gunshot,  the  Indians  gave  up  the  chase,  and  the 
fugitive  arrived  safely  in  the  fort,  He  proved  to  be  the  com 
mandant  of  Sandusky,  who,  having,  as  before  mentioned,  been 
adopted  by  the  Indians,  and  married  to  an  old  squaw,  now  seized 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


289 


the  first  opportunity  of  escaping  from  her  embraces.  Through  this 
man,  the  garrison  learned  the  sad  news  that  Captain  Campbell 
had  been  killed.  It  appeared  that  an  Indian,  killed  in  the  morning 
and  scalped  by  Lieutenant  Hay's  party,  was  a  nephew  of  Wasson, 


DAVID    PRESTON. 

DAVID  PRESTON,  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  was  born  in  Harmony,  Chau- 
tauqua  county,  New  York,  September  20,  1826. 

He  received  a  common  school  education  in  the  schools  of  this  county, 
and  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1848,  arriving  in  Detroit  on  the  4th  of 
November  of  that  year.  Upon  his  arrival  in  that  city  Mr.  Preston  was 
without  money  and  friends,  having  borrowed  twelve  dollars  to  pay  his 
fare.  During  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in  Detroit  he  received  a  salary 
of  $150,  the  second  year  it  was  increased  to  0200,  and  the  third  found  him 
getting  $350,  while  the  fourth  brought  a  further  advance  to  $350. 

Mr.  Preston  commenced  the  banking  business  in  Detroit  in  Mny,  1852, 
with  a  capital  of  but  $450,  and  out  of  which  he  furnished  his  house,  hav- 
19 


290  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

chief  of  the  Ojibwas.  On  hearing  of  his  death,  Wasson  had 
immediately  blackened  his  face  in  sign  of  revenge,  called  together 
a  party  of  his  followers,  and,  repairing  to  the  house  of  Meloche, 
where  Captain  Campbell  was  kept  prisoner,  had  seized  upon  him 
and  tomahawked  him  on  the  spot,  brutally  mutilating  his  body. 
His  heart  is  said  to  have  been  eaten  by  his  murderers,  to  make 
them  courageous.  The  corpse  was  thrown  into  the  river,  and 
afterwards  brought  to  shore  and  buried  by  the  Canadians.  The 
other  captive,  McDougal,  had  previously  escaped. 

The  two  schooners  anchored  opposite  the  fort  were  now  become 
objects  of  awe  and  aversion  to  the  Indians.  This  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at,  for,  besides  aiding  in  the  defense  of  the  place  by 
sweeping  two  sides  of  it  with  their  fire,  they  often  caused  great 
terror  and  annoyance  to  the  besiegers.  Several  times  they  had 
left  their  anchorage,  and  taking  up  a  convenient  position,  had 
battered  the  Indian  camps  and  villages  with  no  little  effect.  Once, 
in  particular,  and  this  was  the  first  attempt  of  the  kind,  Gladwyn 
himself,  with  several  of  his  officers,  had  embarked  on  board  the 
smaller  vessel,  while  a  fresh  breeze  was  blowing  from  the  north 
west.  The  Indians,  on  the  banks,  stood  watching  her  as  she 
tacked  from  shore  to  shore,  and  pressed  their  hands  against  their 
mouths  in  amazement,  thinking  that  magic  power  alone  could 
enable  her  thus  to  make  her  way  against  wind  and  current. 

ing  been  married  but  a  short  time  previous.  In  May,  1854,  through 
industry,  honesty  and  strict  attention  to  his  business,  Mr.  Preston  found 
that  the  small  capital  with  which  he  had  commenced  banking  two  years 
previous  had  increased  to  the  snug  little  sum  of  $5,000.  With  this 
amount  he  opened  another  banking  house  in  Chicago,  and,  directly  fol 
lowing  this  adventure,  came  the  failure  of  A.  Klernm,  of  New  York, 
who  had  $6,000  of  Mr.  Preston's  money  in  his  possession.  Although  by 
this  misfortune  he  lost  his  entire  capital,  still  he  was  not  discouraged, 
and  going  to  work  with  renewed  vigor,  he  soon  placed  himself  on  a 
firmer  foundation  than  ever.  His  banking  houses  both  here  and  in 
Chicago  are  widely  known,  and  have  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the 
moneyed  men  of  the  country  for  a  long  term  of  years. 

During  the  money  panic  of  September,  1873,  the  banking  house  of  D. 
Preston  &  Co.,  in  Detroit,  was  obliged  to  suspend  for  a  few  days,  not 
because  they  had  sustained  any  loss,  or  of  the  defalcation  of  any  person 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  291 

Making  a  long  reach  from  the  opposite  shore,  she  came  on  directly 
towards  the  camp  of  Pontiac,  her  sails  swelling,  her  masts  leaning 
over  until  the  black  muzzles  of  her  guns  almost  touched  the  water. 
The  Indians  watched  her  in  astonishment.  On  she  came,  until 
their  fierce  hearts  exulted  in  the  idea  that  she  would  run  ashore 
within  their  clutches,  when  suddenly  a  shout  of  command  was 
heard  on  board,  her  progress  was  arrested,  she  rose  upright,  and 
her  sails  flapped  and  fluttered  as  if  tearing  loose  from  their  fasten 
ings.  Steadily  she  came  round,  broadside  to  the  shore;  then, 
leaning  once  more  to  the  wind,  bore  away  gallantly  on  the  other 
tack.  She  did  not  go  far.  The  wondering  spectators,  quite  at  a 
loss  to  understand  her  movements,  soon  heard  the  hoarse  rattling 
of  her  cable  as  the  anchor  dragged  it  out,  and  saw  her  furling  her 
vast  white  wings.  As  they  looked  unsuspectingly  on,  a  puff  of 
smoke  was  emitted  from  her  side,  a  loud  report  followed,  then 
another  and  another ;  and  the  balls,  rushing  over  their  heads,  flew 
through  the  midst  of  their  camp  and  tore  wildly  among  the  forest 
trees  beyond.  All  was  terror  and  consternation.  The  startled 
warriors  bounded  away  on  all  sides ;  the  squaws  snatched  up  their 
children,  and  fled,  screaming ;  and,  with  a  general  chorus  of  yells, 
the  whole  encampment  scattered  in  such  haste  that  little  damage 
was  done,  except  knocking  to  pieces  their  frail  cabins  of  bark. 

This  attack  was  followed  by  others  of  a  similar  kind  ;  and  now 
the  Indians  seemed  resolved  to  turn  all  their  energies  to  the 

connected  with  the  firm,  but  entirely  on  account  of  their  not  being  able 
to  convert  their  securities  into  currency  fast  enough  to  supply  the 
demand  of  their  depositors.  This  suspension  was  only  temporary,  and 
within  a  very  short  time  the  doors  were  thrown  open  again  and  business 
proceeded  with  as  usual.  The  Chicago  firm  of  Preston,  Kean  &  Co.,  of 
which  Mr.  Preston  has  been  a  member  for  the  past  ten  years,  were  able 
to  pass  through  the  above  mentioned  financial  trouble  without  any 
serious  difficulty. 

Mr.  Preston  is  best  known,  however,  to  the  people  of  Michigan  for  his 
unbounded  generosity.  No  object  of  a  charitable  nature  is  ever  pre 
sented  to  him  for  his  aid,  without  receiving  substantial  assistance. 
Within  the  last  ten  years  he  has  given  away  over  $65,000  to  forward 
various  charitable  enterprises,  and  has  thus  engrafted  himself  into  the 
affections  of  the  people  of  the  whole  Northwest. 


292  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

destruction  of  the  vessel  which  caused  them  such  annoyance.  On 
the  night  of  the  tenth  of  July,  they  sent  down  a  blazing  raft, 
formed  of  two  boats,  secured  together  with  a  rope,  and  filled  with 
pitch,  pine,  birch-bark,  and  other  combustibles,  which,  by  good 
fortune,  missed  the  vessel  and  floated  down  the  stream  without 
doing  injury.  All  was  quiet  throughout  the  following  night;  but 
about  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  twelfth,  the  sentinel  on 
duty  saw  a  glowing  spark  of  fire  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  at 
some  distance  above.  It  grew  larger  and  brighter ;  it  rose  in  a 
forked  flame,  and  at  length  burst  forth  into  a  broad  conflagration. 
In  this  instance,  too,  fortune  favored  the  vessel ;  for  this  raft, 
which  was  larger  than  the  former,  passed  down  between  her  and 
the  fort,  and  burned  until  its  last  hissing  embers  were  quenched 
in  the  river. 

Though  twice  defeated,  the  Indians  would  not  abandon  their 
plan,  but,  soon  after  this  second  failure,  began  another  raft  of 
different  construction  from  the  former  and  so  large  that  they 
thought  it  certain  to  take  effect.  Gladwyn,  on  his  part,  provided 
boats  which  were  moored  by  chains  at  some  distance  above  the 
vessels,  and  made  other  preparations  of  defense  so  effectual  that 
the  Indians,  after  working  four  days  upon  the  raft,  gave  over  their 
undertaking  as  useless. 

About  this  time,  a  party  of  Shawanoe  and  Delaware  Indians 
arrived  at  Detroit,  and  were  received  by  the  Wyandots  with  a 
salute  of  musketry,  which  occasioned  some  alarm  among  the 
English,  who  knew  nothing  of  its  cause.  They  reported  the  pro 
gress  of  the  war  in  the  south  and  east ;  and,  a  few  days  after,  an 
Abenaki,  from  Lower  Canada,  also  made  his  appearance,  bringing 
to  the  Indians  the  flattering  falsehood  that  their  great  father,  the 
King  of  France,  was  at  that  moment  advancing  up  the  St.  Law 
rence  with  his  army.  It  may  here  be  observed  that  the  name  of 
father,  given  to  the  kings  of  France  and  England,  was  a  mere 
title  of  country  or  policy,  for,  in  his  haughty  independence,  the 
Indian  yields  submission  to  no  man. 

It  was  now  between  two  and  three  months  since  the  siege  began  ; 
and,  if  one  is  disposed  to  think  slightingly  of  the  warriors  whose 
numbers  could  avail  so  little  against  a  handful  of  half-starved 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  293 

English  and  provincials,  he  has  only  to  recollect  that  where  bar 
barism  has  been  arrayed  against  civilization,  disorder  against 
discipline,  and  ungoverned  fury  against  considerate  valor,,  such 
has  seldom  failed  to  be  the  result. 


HON.  BELA  W.  JENKS. 

BELA  W.  JENKS,  one  of  the  citizens  of  St.  Clair,  Michigan,  was  born 
at  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  New  York,  June  6,  1824. 

His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  being  in  moderate  circumstances,  was 
unable  to  give  his  son  the  advantages  of  an  education.  •  However,  the 
young  man  was  industrious  and  diligent  in  his  studies,  and,  by  his  own 
unaided  exertions,  received  a  fair  instruction  in  the  schools  of  Charlotte, 
Chittenden  county,  Vermont. 

Mr.  Jenks  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1848,  and  settled  in  St.  Clair,  St. 
Clair  county,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  at  once  engaged  in 


294  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

At  the  siege  of  Detroit,  the  Indians  displayed  a  high  degree  of 
comparative  steadiness  and  perseverance ;  and  their  history  cannot 
furnish  another  instance  of  so  large  a  force  persisting  so  long  in 
the  attack  of  a  fortified  place.  Their  good  conduct  may  be 
ascribed  to  their  deep  rage  against  the  English,  to  their  hope  of 
speedy  aid  from  the  French,  and  to  the  controlling  spirit  of 
Pontiac,  which  held  them  to  their  work.  The  Indian  is  but  ill 
qualified  for  such  attempts,  having  too  much  caution  for  an  assault 
by  storm,  and  too  little  patience  for  a  blockade.  The  Wyandots 
and  Pottawattamies  had  shown,  from  the  beginning,  less  zeal  than 
the  other  nations ;  and  now,  like  children,  they  began  to  tire  of 
the  task  they  had  undertaken.  A  deputation  of  the  Wyandots 
came  to  the  fort,  and  begged  for  peace,  which  was  granted  them  ; 
but  when  the  Pottawattamies  came  on  the  same  errand,  they 

mercantile  pursuits,  and  soon  built  himself  up  a  lucrative  trade.  Later, 
lie  branched  out  in  the  lumbering  business  and  also  commenced  dealing 
quite  extensively  in  real  estate.  He  is  still  engaged  in  these  two  latter 
occupations,  and  is  constantly  adding  to  his  already  ample  wealth,  while 
at  the  same  time  he  is  doing  much  to  advance  the  interests  of  his  city 
and  State. 

For  some  years  past,  Mr.  Jenks  has  taken  quite  an  active  part  in  local 
and  State  politics,  always  acting  with  the  Republican  party.  He  has  held 
a  number  of  important  official  positions  in  the  government  of  the  city  of 
St.  Clair,  performing  his  duties  in  a  manner  to  elicit  the  praise  of  even 
his  political  opponents. 

In  the  fall  of  1869,  he  was  elected  State  senator  from  the  twenty-fourth 
senatorial  district,  comprising  St.  Clair  county,  and  was  reflected  to  the 
same  position  in  1871.  While  occupying  a  position  in  the  Senate,  he  won 
the  confidence  of  that  body  and  took  a  leading  part  in  much  of  the 
legislation  of  the  one  extra  and  two  regular  sessions  which  were  held 
during  the  time  he  was  a  member.  He  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  rules  and  joint  rules,  and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  division  of 
towns  and  counties,  on  public  lands  and  on  drainage  during  the  session 
of  1869-70;  and  in  the  session  of  1871-72  he  was  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  public  lands,  and  a  member  of  the  committees  on  constitutional 
amendments  and  on  the  select  committee  on  apportionment. 

As  a  man,  Mr.  Jenks  is  social  and  pleasant,  and  his  manners  and 
general  bearing  is  such  as  to  win  him  the  high  regard  and  esteem  of  his 
fellow-citizens.  He  is  a  man  of  unswerving  honesty  and  indomitable 
energy,  seldom  failing  to  secure  the  object  for  which  he  labors. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  295 

insisted,  as  a  preliminary,  that  some  of  their  people  who  were 
detained  prisoners  by  the  English  should  first  be  given  up. 
Gladwyn  demanded,  on  his  part,  that  the  English  captives  known 
to  be  in  their  village  should  be  brought  to  the  fort,  and  three  of 
them  wrere  accordingly  produced.  As  these  were  but  a  small  part 
of  the  whole,  the  deputies  were  sharply  rebuked  for  their  duplicity, 
and  told  to  go  back  for  the  rest.  They  withdrew,  angry  and 
mortified ;  but,  on  the  following  day,  a  fresh  deputation  of  chiefs 
made  their  appearance,  bringing  with  them  six  prisoners.  Having 
repaired  to  the  council  room,  they  were  met  by  Gladwyn,  attended 
only  by  one  or  two  officers.  The  Indians  detained  in  the  fort 
were  about  to  be  given  up,  and  a  treaty  concluded,  when  one  of 
the  prisoners  declared  that  there  were  several  others  still  remain 
ing  in  the  Pottawattamie  village.  Upon  this,  the  conference  was 
broken  off,  and  the  deputies  ordered  instantly  to  depart.  On 
being  thus  a  second  time  defeated,  they  were  goaded  to  such  a 
pitch  of  rage,  that,  as  afterwards  became  known,  they  formed  the 
desperate  resolution  of  killing  Gladwyn  on  the  spot,  and  then 
making  their  escape  in  the  best  way  they  could  ;  but,  happily,  at 
that  moment  the  commandant  observed  an  Ottawa  among  them, 
and,  resolving  to  seize  him,  called  upon  the  guard  without  to 
assist  in  doing  so.  A  file  of  soldiers  entered,  and  the  chiefs,  seeing 
it  impossible  to  execute  their  design,  withdrew  from  the  fort,  with 
dark  and  sullen  brows.  A.  day  or  two  afterwards,  however,  they 
returned  with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  on  which  peace  was  granted 
them,  and  their  people  set  at  liberty. 


CHAPTER  XX. 


CONSPIRACY  OF  PONTIAC  CONTINUED — THE  BATTLE  OF  BLOODY  EUN — 
CAPTAIN  DALZELL'S  DETACHMENT  SLAUGHTERED  BY  THE  SAVAGES 
— ADVENTURE  OF  THE  SCHOONER  GLADWYN— THE  INDIANS  SUE  FOR 
PEACE — APPROACH  OF  WINTER. 

FOR  SOME  time  after  this  peace  with  the  Wyandots  and 
Pottawattamies,  nothing  of  importance  occurred  at  Detroit,  except 
that  the  garrison  was  continually  harassed  by  the  Ojibwas  and 
Ottawas.  But,  in  the  meantime,  Gladwyn's  little  band  was  being 
reinforced.  Captain  Dalzell  had  left  Niagara  with  twenty-two 
barges,  bearing  two  hundred  and  eighty  men,  with  several  small 
cannon  and  a  fresh  supply  of  provisions  and  ammunition.  This 
detachment  reached  Detroit  at  the  end  of  July,  1763,  and  landed 
amid  the  cheers  of  the  garrison.  The  detachment  was  composed 
of  soldiers  from  the  55th  and  80th  regiments,  with  twenty  inde 
pendent  rangers,  commanded  by  Major  Rogers.  The  barracks  in 
the  place  being  too  small  to  receive  them,  they  were  all  quartered 
among  the  inhabitants. 

On  the  day  of  his  arrival,  Captain  Dalzell  had  a  conference 
with  Gladwyn,  and  strongly  insisted  that  the  time  wras  come 
when  an  irrecoverable  blow  might  be  dealt  at  Pontiac.  Gladwyn, 
better  acquainted  with  the  position  of  the  enemy,  was  averse  to 
the  attempt;  but  Dalzell,  still  urging  his  request,  at  last 
obtained  the  commandant's  consent. 

Owing  to  the  delay  of  marching  out  as  at  first  contemplated,  their 
plans  became  known  to  the  great  chief,  and  he  prepared  himself  for 
the  battle.  However,  early  the  following  morning,  the  thirty-first 
of  July,  the  gates  were  thrown  open  in  silence,  and  the  detachment, 
two  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  marched  out.  They  filed  two 
deep  along  the  river  road,  while  two  bateaux,  each  bearing  a 
swivel,  rowed  up  the  river  abreast  of  them.  Lieutenant  Brown 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


297 


led  the  advance  guard  of  twenty-five  men,  the  centre  was  com 
manded  by  Captain  Gray,  and  the  rear  by  Captain  Grant.  The 
morning  was  close  and  sultry.  On  their  right  lay  the  river  and 
on  their  left  a  succession  of  Canadian  houses,  with  barns,  orchards 


E.   O.   HAVEN,   D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

ERASTUS  OTIS  HAVEN  was  born  in  1820,  and  it  is  his  double  good  fortune 
to  have  been  a  Boston  boy  and  a  farmer  boy.  In  intervals  of  work,  he 
found  time  to  gratify  varied  and  keen  intellectual  tastes  ;  and  made 
thorough  preparation  for  college.  Entering  at  Middletown,  in  1838,  he 
not  only  mastered  liberal  studies  but  acquired  their  uses  also.  In  1843, 
he  began  — as  instructor  in  the  New  York  Anieuia  Seminary  (of  which  he 
became  principal  in  1846) — a  career  in  the  comparatively  brief  course  of 
which  he  has  left  hardly  a  branch  of  higher  knowledge  untaught  or  ill- 


298  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

and  corn  fields.  The  inhabitants,  roused  from  sleep,  looked  from 
the  windows  in  astonishment  and  alarm.  Thus  the  English 
moved  forward  to  the  attack,  little  thinking  that  behind  every 
available  shelter  Indian  scouts  watched  every  movement,  and  still 
less  suspecting  that  Pontiac,  aware  of  their  plan,  had  broken  up 
his  camp  and  was  marching  against  them  with  all  his  warriors, 
armed  and  painted  for  battle. 

"  A  mile  and  a  half  from  the  fort,"  says  Parkman,  "  Parent's 
Creek,  ever  since  that  night  called  Bloody  Run,  descended 
through  a  wild  and  rough  hollow,  and  entered  the  Detroit  amid  a 
growth  of  rank  grass  and  sedge.  Only  a  few  rods  from  its 
mouth,  the  road  crossed  it  by  a  narrow,  wooden  bridge,  not  exist 
ing  at  the  present  day.  Just  beyond  this  bridge,  the  land  rose 
in  abrupt  ridges,  parallel  to  the  stream.  Along  their  summits 
were  rude  intrenchments,  made  by  Pontiac  to  protect  his  camp, 
which  had  formerly  occupied  the  ground  immediately  beyond. 
Here,  too,  were  many  piles  of  fire-wood,  belonging  to  the  Cana 
dians,  besides  strong  picket  fences,  inclosing  orchards  and  gar 
dens  connected  with  the  neighboring  houses.  Behind  fences, 
wood-piles  and  intrenchments  crou.ched  an  unknown  number  of 
Indian  warriors,  with  leveled  guns.  They  lay  silent  as  snakes, 

taught,  scarcely  a  form  of  wholesome  discipline  or  an  element  of  generous 
culture  unutilized.  His  services  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  as  an 
ecclesiastical  journalist,  as  a  public  lecturer  on  various  topics,  and  as  a 
legislator,  have  been  no  less  distinguished.  From  1848  to  1853,  he  was 
pastor,  successively,  over  three  churches  of  New  York;  from  1853  to 
1854,  professor  of  Latin,  and  from  1854  to  1856,  professor  of  rhetoric  and 
English  literature,  in  the  University  of  Michigan;  from  1856  to  1863, 
editor  of  Zioris  Herald  (Boston,  Massachusetts),  the  organ  of  New  Eng 
land  Methodism — performing  at  the  same  time  the  duties  of  member  of 
the  local  school  committee,  member  of  the  State  board  of  education,  and 
(1862,  1863)  of  State  senator  from  the  first  Middlesex  district,  being  chair 
man  of  the  joint  committee  of  the  legislature  on  education;  from  1863  to 
1869,  president  of  the  University  of  Michigan ;  and,  from  1869  to  1872, 
president  of  the  Northwestern  University. 

While  in  the  Massachusetts  legislature,  Dr.  Haven  introduced  and 
secured  the  enactment  of  laws— excusing  Roman  Catholic  children  from 
reading  the  Bible  in  the  public  schools,  and  permitting  it  to  be  read  by 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  299 

for  now  they  could  hear  the  distant  tramp  of  the  approaching 
column.  The  sky  was  overcast,  and  the  morning  exceedingly  dark. 
As  the  English  drew  near  the  dangerous  pass,  they  could  discern 
the  oft-mentioned  house  of  Meloche,  upon  a  rising  ground  to  the 
left,  while  in  front,  the  bridge  was  dimly  visible,  and  the  ridges 
beyond  it  seemed  like  a  wall  of  undistinguished  blackness.  They 
pushed  rapidly  forward,  not  wholly  unsuspicious  of  danger.  The 
advance  guard  were  half  way  over  the  bridge,  and  the  main 
body  just  entering  upon  it,  when  a  horrible  burst  of  yells  rose 
in  front,  and  the  Indian  guns  blazed  forth  in  general  discharge. 
Half  the  advanced  party  were  shot  down  ;  the  appalled  survivors 
shrank  back  aghast.  The  confusion  reached  even  the  main 
body,  and  the  whole  recoiled  together;  but  Dalzell  raised  his 
clear  voice  above  the  din,  advanced  to  the  front,  rallied  the  men, 
and  led  them  forward  to  the  attack.  Again  the  Indians  poured 
in  their  volley,  and  again  the  English  hesitated  ;  but  Dalzell 
shouted  from  the  van,  and,  in  the  madness  of  mingled  rage 
and  fear,  they  charged  at  a  run  across  the  bridge,  and  up  the 
heights  beyond.  Not  an  Indian  was  there  to  oppose  them.  In 
vain  the  furious  soldiers  sought  their  enemy  behind  fences  and 
intrenchments.  The  active  savages  had  fled  ;  yet  still  their  guns 

the  teacher;  creating  an  agricultural  college  and  endowing  the  Institute 
of  Technology;  enlarging  the  scope  of  Normal  schools,  and  granting 
much  needed  State  aid  to  the  Museum  of  Natural  Science,  of  which 
Agassiz  is  the  head. 

The  State  of  Michigan,  during  the  three  years  of  his  first  connection 
with  its  great  Universitj^,  he  may  be  said  to  have  canvassed.  His  services 
to  the  University  during  this  time  have  scarcely  been  appreciated  at  their 
true  value.  The  men  gathered  at  Ann  Arbor,  in  1853,  under  the  presi 
dency  of  Henry  P.  Tappan,  numbered  not  a  few  of  the  most  accomplished 
proficients  in  the  various  branches  of  liberal  learning,  and  masters  in  the 
art  of  teaching  them,  of  their  day.  The  University — its  single  academic 
course  antiquated,  its  faculty  discordant  and  disorganized,  its  students 
scattered,  the  public  confidence  gone,  the  mere  tool  of  sects  and  the  sport 
of  politicians — was  on  the  point  of  being  utterly  broken  up.  The  legis 
lature  required  that  the  University  should  have  a  scientific  department, 
to  which  young  men  should  be  admitted  without  classical  preparation. 
The  constitution  of  this  department  was  intrusted  to  a  special  committee 


300  GENERAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  STATES. 

flashed  thick  through  the  gloom,  and  their  war-cry  rose  with 
undiminished  clamor.  The  English  pushed  forward  amid  the 
pitchy  darkness,  quite  ignorant  of  their  way,  and  soon  became 
involved  in  a  maze  of  outhouses  and  inclosures.  At  every  pause 
they  made,  the  retiring  enemy  would  gather  to  renew  the  attack, 
firing  back  hotly  upon  the  front  and  flanks.  To  advance  further 
would  be  useless,  and  the  only  alternative  was  to  withdraw,  and 
wait  for  daylight.  Captain  Grant,  with  his  company,  recrossed 
the  bridge,  and  took  up  his  station  on  the  roa/1.  The  rest  fol 
lowed,  a  small  party  remaining  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  while 
the  dead  and  wounded  were  placed  on  board  the  two  bateaux, 
which  had  rowed  up  to  the  bridge  during  the  action.  This  task 
was  commenced  amid  a  sharp  fire  from  both  sides  ;  and,  before  it 
was  completed,  heavy  volleys  were  heard  from  the  rear,  where 
Captain  Grant  was  stationed.  A  great  force  of  Indians  had  fired 
upon  him  from  the  house  of  Meloche  and  the  neighboring 
orchards.  Grant  pushed  up  the  hill,  and  drove  them  from  the 
orchards  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet — drove  them,  also,  from  the 
house,  and,  entering  it,  found  two  Canadians  within.  These  men 
told  him  that  the  Indians  were  bent  on  cutting  off  the  English 
from  the  fort,  and  that  they  had  gone  in  great  numbers  to  occupy 
the  houses  which  commanded  the  road  below. 

of  the  professors,  of  which  Haven  and  Boise  (who  was  then  in  the  chair 
of  Greek)  were  members.  Its  history  is  a  record  unsurpassed  of  unbroken 
progress  —  keeping  equal  pace  with  every  advance  of  science,  and 
instantly  meeting  the  current  demands  of  practical  affairs.  It  was  neck 
to  neck  with  the  classical  course  in  a  race  in  which  each  competitor 
enjoyed  all  that  the  other  gained. 

In  Ib63,  he  was  invited  to  the  vacant  presidency.  The  summons  was 
by  telegraph;  likewise  the  response.  The  motives  which  induced  a  step 
that  seemed  to  many  sudden  and  unadvised,  do  honor  to  Haven's  head 
and  heart.  The  true  friends  of  the  University  were  again  in  a  panic  of 
terror.  Knowing  that  Dr.  Tappan  would  not  be  reflected — in  thorough 
sympathy  with  the  idea  of  the  institution;  enjoying  the  manly  respect  of 
all  parties  to  the  recent  conflict,  and  the  affectionate  esteem  of  nearly  all; 
familiar  with  the  people  of  the  State  and  the  genius  of  jits  institutions — 
he  was  inspired  with  a  chivalrous  desire  to  return  and  help  to  make  the 
University  a  success.  Suffice  it  to  say  that,  having  in  hand  the  most 
difficult  and  delicate  " case"  of  college  management  that  ever  arose,  even 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  301 

It  was  now  evident  that  instant  retreat  was  necessary  ;  and,  the 
command  being  issued  to  that  effect,  the  men  fell  back  into 
marching  order,  and  slowly  began  their  retrograde  movement. 
Grant  was  now  in  the  van,  and  Dalzell  at  the  rear.  Some  of  the 
Indians  followed,  keeping  up  a  scattering  and  distant  fire ;  and, 
from  time  to  time,  the  rear  faced  about,  to  throw  back  a  volley  of 
musketry  at  the  pursuers.  Having  proceeded  in  this  manner  half 
a  mile,  they  reached  a  point  where,  close  upon  the  right,  were 
many  barns  and  outhouses,  with  strong  picket  fences.  Behind 
these,  and  in  a  newly-dug  cellar  close  at  hand,  lay  concealed  an 
immense  multitude  of  Indians.  They  suffered  the  advanced  party 
to  pass  unmolested  ;  but,  when  the  center  and  rear  came  opposite 
their  ambuscade,  they  raised  a  frightful  yell,  and  poured  a  volley 
among  them.  The  men  had  well  nigh  fallen  into  a  panic.  The 
river  ran  close  on  their  left,  and  the  only  avenue  of  escape  lay 
along  the  road  in  front.  Breaking  their  ranks,  they  crowded 
upon  one  another,  in  blind  eagerness  to  escape  the  storm  of  bul 
lets  ;  and,  but  for  the  presence  of  Daizell,  the  retreat  would  have 
been  turned  into  a  flight. 

"  The  enemy,"  writes  an  officer  who  was  in  the  fight,  "  marked 
him  for  his  extraordinary  bravery ;  and  he  had  already  received 

in  our  wayward  and  capricious  community,  he  within  a  month  achieved 
the  promise  of  success;  and  at  the  end  of  two  years  there  remained — 
neither  in  the  University  nor  out  of  it — a  trace  of  the  bitter  dissension 
that  threatened  to  rend  and  ruin  the  institution. 

Under  his  presidency,  the  number  of  students  was  nearly  doubled, 
though  the  standards  for  admission  were  materially  raised;  the  internal 
economy  was  renovated  and  improved;  the  "Senate"  of  the  faculties 
exercised  its  proper  and  useful  functions;  efficient  discipline  was  secured, 
though  "personal  government"  scarcely  made  itself  felt.  The  Univer 
sity,  however,  had  but  fairly  begun  its  mature  growth,  though  its  income 
was  at  the  maximum.  President  Haven  determined  that  the  State  should 
grant  pecuniary  aid  to  the  University.  He  spent  several  weeks  with  the 
legislature  of  1866.  An  act  was  passed,  granting  aid  on  condition  of  the 
appointment  to  the  medical  department  of  a  professor  of  homoeopathy. 
The  condition  reflected  tl<3  opinion  of  a  large  minority  of  citizens.  Dr. 
Haven  simply  urged  the  necessity  of  making  the  medical  department 
(like  that  of  the  universities  of  Europe)  strictly  and  broadly  scientific. 


302  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

two  severe  wounds.  Yet  his  exertions  did  not  slacken  for  a 
moment.  Some  of  the  soldiers  he  rebuked,  some  he  threatened, 
and  some  he  beat  with  the  flat  of  his  sword ;  till,  at  length, 
order  was  restored,  and  the  fire  of  the  enemy  returned  with  effect. 
Though  it  was  near  daybreak,  the  dawn  was  obscured  by  a  thick 
fog,  and  little  could  be  seen  of  the  Indians,  except  the  incessant 
flashes  of  their  guns  amid  the  mist,  while  hundreds  of  voices, 
mingled  in  one  appalling  yell,  confused  the  faculties  of  the  men, 
and  drowned  the  shout  of  command.  The  enemy  had  taken 
possession  of  a  house,  from  the  windows  of  which  they  fired  down 
upon  the  English.  Major  Kogers,  with  some  of  his  provincial 
rangers,  burst  the  door  with  an  axe,  rushed  in,  and  expelled  them. 
Captain  Gray  was  ordered  to  dislodge  a  large  party  from  behind 
some  neighboring  fences.  He  charged  them  with  his  company, 
but  fell,  mortally  wounded,  in  the  attempt.  They  gave  way,  how 
ever  ;  and  now,  the  fire  of  the  Indians  being  much  diminished, 
the  retreat  was  resumed. 

No  sooner  had  the  men  faced  about,  than  the  savages  came 
darting  through  the  mist  upon  their  flank  and  rear,  cutting  down 
stragglers,  and  scalping  the  fallen.  At  a  little  distance  lay  a 
sergeant  of  the  Fifty-fifth,  helplessly  wounded,  raising  himself  on 

These  views  carried  such  weight  with  all  who  loved,  not  their  favorite 
system  less  but  the  University  more,  that  the  next  legislature,  removing 
this  onerous  condition,  provided  for  a  slight  increase  of  the  State  tax — 
$15,000  annually.  The  income  from  this  and  other  sources  was  nearly 
doubled.  Every  department  has  reaped  the  fruits — the  medical,  in  a 
course  of  pharmacy  and  a  hospital ;  the  literary,  by  new  material  of  study ; 
the  scientific  school,  by  the  addition  of  mining  and  mechanical  engineer 
ing;  the  law,  by  substantial  enlargement  of  its  facilities. 

Another  engrossing  question  was  appealed  to  the  legislature — the  admis 
sion  of  women.  Dr.  Haven,  while  maintaining  that  in  theory  men  and 
women  should  enjoy  equal  advantages,  did  not,  as  president  of  the 
University,  advise  the  opening  of  its  doors  to  women,  until  the  legislature, 
having  twice  decided  to  make  no  other  provision,  finally  recommended 
their  admission.  He  then  advised  that  the  University,  instead  of  waiting 
to  have  the  matter  thrust  upon  it,  should  talfe  up  the  new  policy  and 
guide  and  shape  it.  The  question  was  thus  decided. 

Dr.  Haven  finally  accepted  the  call  to  the  .Northwestern  University,  and 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  303 

his  hands,  and  gazing,  with  a  look  of  despair,  after  his  retiring 
comrades.  The  sight  caught  the  eye  of  Dalzell.  That  gallant 
soldier,  in  the  true  spirit  of  heroism,  ran  out,  amid  the  firing,  to 
rescue  the  wounded  man,  when  a  shot  struck  him,  and  he  fell 
dead.  Few  observed  his  fate,  and  none  durst  turn  back  to  recover 
his  body.  The  detachment  pressed  on,  greatly  harassed  by  the 
pursuing  Indians.  Their  loss  would  have  been  much  more  severe, 
had  not  Major  Rogers  taken  possession  of  another  house,  which 
commanded  the  road,  and  covered  the  retreat  of  the  party. 

He  entered  it  with  some  of  his  own  men,  while  many  panic- 
stricken  regulars  broke  in  after  him,  in  their  eagerness  to  gain  a 
temporary  shelter.  The  house  was  a  large  and  strong  one, 
and  the  women  of  the  neighborhood  had  crowded  into  the 
cellar  for  refuge.  While  some  of  the  soldiers  looked,  in  blind 
terror,  for  a  place  of  concealment,  others  seized  upon  a  keg 
of  whisky  in  one  of  the  rooms,  and  quaffed  the  liquor  with  eager 
thirst ;  while  others,  again,  piled  packs  of  furs,  furniture,  and  all 
else  within  their  reach,  against  the  windows,  to  serve  as  a  barri 
cade.  Panting  and  breathless,  their  faces  moist  with  sweat,  and 
blackened  with  gunpowder,  they  thrust  their  muskets  through  the 
openings,  and  fired  out  upon  the  whooping  assailants.  At  inter- 
before  he  severed  his  connection  with  that  institution  it  was  placed  on  a 
firm  foundation.  In  the  short  time  he  was  at  its  head,  it  developed  from 
a  college  to  a  university,  and  promises  to  be  one  of  the  largest  denomina 
tional  institutions  in  the  country. 

The  general  conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  1872, 
established  a  board  of  education,  to  have  supervision  over  the  whole 
subject  of  education  in  the  church,  and  unanimously  elected  Dr.  Haven 
its  corresponding  secretary  or  superintendent,  since  which  time  his 
residence  has  been  in  New  York  City. 

The  lesson  of  the  life  here  sketched  is  sufficiently  apparent  in- the  life 
itself.  To  bring  principle  the  most  exalted  and  character  the  purest  to 
practical  affairs,  thereby  to  make  the  most  of  the  common  opportunities 
and  the  common  things  of  to-day,  by  the  exercise  of  powers  which  are 
men's  common  endowment — such  is,  as  we  conceive,  the  problem  of  the 
"higher  life"  in  our  crowded,  intense  and  practical  civilization. 

Of  this  perfection  of  the  practical,  Haven  is  so  preeminently  an 
example  that  it  may  be  said  that  it  is  his  genius;  but  it  is  a  genius  rich 


304  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

vals,  a  bullet  flew  sharply  whizzing  through  a  crevice,  striking 
down  a  man,  perchance,  or  rapping  harmlessly  against  the  parti 
tions.  Jacques  Campau,  the  master  of  the  house,  stood  on  a  trap 
door,  to  prevent  the  frightened  soldiers  from  seeking  shelter 
among  the  women  in  the  cellar.  A  ball  grazed  his  gray  head, 
and  buried  itself  in  the  wall,  where,  a  few  years,  since,  it  might 
still  have  been  seen.  The  screams  of  the  half-stifled  women 
below,  the  quavering  war-whoops  without,  the  shouts  and  curses 
of  the  soldiers,  mingled  in  a  scene  of  clamorous  confusion ;  and 
it  was  long  before  the  authority  of  Rogers  could  restore  order. 
In  the  meantime,  Captain  Grant,  with  his  advanced  party,  had 
moved  forward  about  half  a  mile,  where  he  found  some  orchards 
and  inclosures,  by  means  of  which  he  could  maintain  himself 
until  the  center  and  rear  should  arrive.  From  this  point  he 
detached  all  the  men  he  could  spare  to  occupy  the  houses  below ; 
and,  as  soldiers  soon  began  to  come  in  from  the  rear,  he  was 
enabled  to  reinforce  these  detachments,  until  a  complete  line  of 
communication  was  established  with  the  fort,  and  the  retreat 
effectually  secured.  Within  an  hour  the  whole  party  had  arrived, 
with  the  exception  of  Rogers  and  his  men,  who  were  quite  unable 
to  come  off,  being  besieged,  in  the  house  of  Campau,  by  full  two 
hundred  Indians. 

in  inspiration  to  multitudes  who  may  never  attain  the  high  ideal.  What 
ever  else  he  is,  he  is  always  practical.  His  discourses  have  been  sometimes 
criticised  by  those  who  are  so  shallow  as  to  confound  the  art  of  bringing 
thought  to  the  surface  with  superficiality.  They  rarely  fail  to  gather  up 
and  utilize  the  profoundest  thoughts,  the  remotest  theorizings,  the  largest 
generalizations.  But  his  style  is  a  means,  not  an  end;  like  the  air,  itself 
invisible,  it  reveals  all  things;  its  charm  is  that  of  purity,  giving  clear 
vision — never  distortion  or  mirage.  The  still  waters  of  his  discourse  run 
deep;  his  words  always  "  set  hearts  beating  pure,"  if  rarely  "fast." 

At  Detroit,  in  1869,  he  innocently  raised  a  tempest  in  the  ecclesiastical 
tea-pot  by  doing  what  he  had  often  done  in  the  East  —  preaching  a 
Christian  sermon  in  a  Unitarian  pulpit.  It  fails  to  appear,  however,  that 
on  these  occasions  he  deviated  from  the  orthodox  standard  of  doctrine  in 
his  church.  It  is,  at  the  same  time,  the  habit  of  his  mind,  as  it  is  the 
instinct  of  his  pure  heart  and  generous  nature,  to  recognize  and  acknow 
ledge  truth  in  doctrine  and  excellence  in  character  wherever  found. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


305 


The  two  armed  bateaux  had  gone  down  to  the  fort,  laden  with 
the  dead  and  wounded.  They  now  returned,  and,  in  obedience 
to  an  order  from  Grant,  proceeded  up  the  river  to  a  point  oppo 
site  Campau's  house,  where  they  opened  a  fire  of  swivels,  which 


HON.  JOHN   F.  DRIGGS. 

JOHN  F.  DRIGGS  was  born  at  Kinder-book,  Columbia  county,  New 
York,  March  8,  1813. 

His  parents  were  natives  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  their  ancestors 
having  emigrated  there  at  a  very  early  period  in  the  history  of  our 
country.  His  grandsires  were  both  revolutionary  soldiers. 

When  Mr.  Driggs  was  but  a  small  boy,  his  father  moved  from  Kinder- 
hook,  and  settled,  for  a  few  years,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  near 
West  Point.  It  was  while  residing  here,  that  Mr.  Driggs  first  heard  the 
history  of  the  war  of  independence  from  the  lips  of  many  of  the  old 
20 


306  '  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    STATES. 

swept  the  ground  above  and  below  it,  and  completely  scattered  the 
assailants.  Rogers  and  his  party  now  came  out,  and  marched 
down  the  road,  to  unite  themselves  with  Grant.  The  two  bateaux 
accompanied  them  closely,  and,  by  a  constant  fire,  restrained  the 
Indians  from  making  an  attack.  Scarcely  had  Rogers  left  the 
house  at  one  4oor,  when  the  enemy  entered  it  at  the  other,  to 
obtain  the  scalps  from  two  or  three  corpses  left  behind.  Fore 
most  of  them  all,  a  withered  old  squaw  rushed  in,  with  a  shrill 
scream,  and,  slashing  open  one  of  the  dead  bodies  with  her  knife, 
scooped  up  the  blood  between  her  hands,  and  quaffed  it  with  a 
ferocious  ecstacy. 

Grant  resumed  his  retreat,  as  soon  as  Rogers  had  arrived  back, 
from  house  to  house,  joined  in  succession  by  the  parties  sent  to 
garrison  each.  The  Indians,  in  great  numbers,  stood  whooping 
and  yelling,  at  a  vain  distance,  unable  to  make  an  attack — so  well 
did  Grant  choose  his  positions,  and  so  steadily  and  coolly  conduct 
the  retreat.  About  eight  o'clock,  after  six  hours  of  marching 
and  combat,  the  detachment  entered  once  more  within  the  shel 
tering  palisades  of  Detroit.  In  this  action,  the  English  lost  fifty- 
soldiers  who  lived  in  that  patriotic  region.  From  their  stories,  he  imbibed 
those  strong  sentiments  of  hatred  for  slavery  and  oppression,  and  that 
love  of  liberty  and  justice  which  has  so  prominently  influenced  and  con 
trolled  his  after  life. 

His  father  soon  moved  again,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  village 
of  Tarrytown,  also  on  the  Hudson.  He  did  not  remain  here  long,  how 
ever,  as  he  shortly  afterwards  located  in  New  York  City,  where  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  life. 

In  consequence  of  the  frequent  removals  of  his  father,  Mr.  Driggs  had 
but  few  opportunities  of  acquiring  an  education  until  he  settled  in  New 
York  City  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  then  such  only  as  a  natural  strong 
mind,  perseverance  and  an  academy  afforded.  Of  these  opportunities  he 
made  the  most. 

Having  been  apprenticed  to  and  learned  the  trade  of  sash,  blind  and 
door  making,  he  followed  that  occupation — first  as  a  journeyman,  then 
for  many  years  as  a  master  mechanic. 

Shortly  after  his  marriage,  and  without  application,  he  received  the 
appointment,  from  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  New  York,  of 
superintendent  of  the  penitentiary  and  public  institutions  on  Blackwell's 
Island,  and  his  wife  received  at  the  same  time  the  appointment  of  matron 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  307 

nine  men  killed  and  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Indians  could  not 
be  ascertained  ;  but  it  certainly  did  not  exceed  fifteen  or  twenty. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  fight  their  numbers  were  probably  much 
inferior  to  those  of  the  English,  but  fresh  parties  were  continu 
ally  joining  them,  until  seven  or  eight  hundred  warriors  must 
have  been  present.  The  Ojibwas  and  Ottawas  alone  formed  the 
ambuscade  at  the  bridge,  under  Pontiac's  command ;  for  the 
Wyandots  and  Pottawattamies  came  later  to  the  scene  of  action, 
crossing  the  river  in  their  canoes,  and  passing  round  through  the 
woods,  behind  the  fort,  to  take  part  in  the  fray. 

In  speaking  of  the  fight  of  Bloody  Bridge,  an  able  writer  in 
the  "  Annual  Register"  for  the  year  1763,  observes,  with  justice, 
that,  although  in  European  warfare  it  would  be  deemed  a  mere 
skirmish,  yet  in  a  conflict  with  the  American  savages,  it  rises  to 
the  importance  of  a  pitched  battle;  since  these  people,  being 
thinly  scattered  over  a  great  extent  of  country,  are  accustomed 
to  conduct  their  warfare  by  detail,  and  never  take  the  field  in 
any  great  force. 

The  Indians  were  greatly  elated  by  their  success,  and  reinforce- 

of  the  penitentiary.  The  duties  of  these  positions  were  performed  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  publi<t  and  all  parties. 

Though,  in  early  life,  Mr.  Driggs  had  formed  a  preference  for  the 
Democratic  principles  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  his  strong  opposition  to 
slavery  brought  him  in  full  sympathy  and  cooperation  with  such  early 
advocates  of  emancipation  as  Leroy  Sunderland,  Orange  Scott,  Alvin 
Stewart,  Lewis  and  Arthur  Tappan,  Friend  Hopper  and  their  co-laborers. 
His  abolition  sentiments  prevented  a  sympathy  between  him  and  either 
of  the  dominant  parties  in  1836.  Yet,  in  choosing  between  the  two,  he 
gave  the  preference  to  the  Democrats,  but  these  he  virtually  left  when  he 
cast  his  vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren  for  President  on  the  Free  Soil 
platform. 

Leaving  the  city  of  New  York  in  1856,  he,  with  his  family,  settled  at 
East  Saginaw,  Michigan,  where  he  entered  into  the  mercantile  and 
lumber  business.  The  second  year  after  his  locating  there,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  village  and  held  that  position  when  East  Saginaw 
was  incorporated  as  a  city.  In  1859,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legisla 
ture  for  two  years,  and,  in  1861,  was  appointed  register  of  United  States 
land  office  for  the  Saginaw  district.  While  holding  this  position,  he  was 
elected  to  Congress  from  the  then  Sixth  Congressional  District,  compris- 


308  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ments  soon  began  to  come  in  to  swell  the  force  of  Pontiac. 
"  Fresh  warriors,"  writes  Gladwyn,  "  arrive  almost  every  day,  and 
I  believe  that  I  shall  soon  be  besieged  by  upwards  of  a  thousand." 
The  English,  on  their  part,  were  well  prepared  for  resistance, 
since  the  garrison  now  comprised  more  than  three  hundred  effec 
tive  men ;  and  no  one  entertained  a  doubt  of  their  ultimate  suc 
cess  in  defending  the  place.  Day  after  day  passed  on ;  a  few 
skirmishes  took  place,  and  a  few  men  were  killed ;  but  nothing 
worthy  of  notice  occurred  until  the  night  of  the  fourth  of  Sep 
tember,  at  which  time  was  achieved  one  of  the  most  memorable 
feats  of  which  the  chronicles  of  that  day  can  boast. 

The  schooner  Gladwyn,  the  smaller  of  the  two  armed  vessels 
so  often  mentioned,  had  been  sent  down  to  Niagara  with  letters 
and  dispatches.  She  was  now  returning,  having  on  board  Horst, 
her  master,  Jacobs,  her  mate,  and  a  crew  of  ten  men,  all  of  whom 
were  provincials,  besides  six  Iroquois  Indians,  supposed  to  be 
friendly  to  the  English.  On  the  night  of  the  third  she  entered 
the  River  Detroit,  and,  in  the  morning,  the  six  Indians  asked  to 
be  set  on  shore,  a  request  which  was  foolishly  granted.  They  dis- 

ing  the  Upper  Peninsula  of  thirty  counties,  being  nearly  one-half  of  the 
territory  in  the  entire  State.  He  was  feelected  twice  by  largely  increased 
majorities,  but,  refusing  to  leave  his  post  at  Washington  to  secure  a 
fourth  nomination,  he  was,  after  a  protracted  session,  defeated  in  the 
convention  by  one.  Two  years  subsequent  to  this,  he  was  again  nomin 
ated  by  the  Republican  party  and  defeated,  after  an  extraordinary  contest, 
by  Judge  Sutherland,  the  Democratic  nominee.  The  extraordinary 
means  resorted  to,  to  accomplish  Mr.  Driggs'  defeat  in  the  cKstrict  where 
it  is  universally  admitted  that  he  made  an  enviable  record  as  a  faithful, 
patriotic  and  energetic  representative,  are  well  known  to  the  people  of 
his  State,  and  cannot  be  further  alluded  to  in  this  sketch.  Suffice  it  to 
say,  that  during  his  congressional  career,  he  established  a  record  for 
fidelity,  industry  and  patriotism,  of  which  he  may  well  be  proud. 

Near  the  close  of  the  war,  under  the  last  call,  he  raised  a  full  regiment 
in  sixty  days,  while  the  other  six  regiments  called  for  had  to  be  consoli 
dated  to  fill  their  ranks,  before  leaving  for  the  front. 

Mr.  Driggs  still  resides  at  East  Saginaw,  where  he  is  much  respected 
and  largely  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  salt  and  in  real  estate  trans 
actions.  He  may  well  be  included  among  the  most  worthy  and  prominent 
citizens  of  Michigan. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 

appeared  in  the  woods,  and  probably  reported  to  Pontiac's  war 
riors  the  small  number  of  the  crew.  The  vessel  stood  up  the 
river  until  nightfall,  when,  the  wind  falling,  she  was  compelled  to 
anchor  about  nine  miles  below  the  fort.  The  men  on  board 


REV.  J.  M.  ARNOLD. 

JOHN  M.  ARNOLD,  one  of  the  most  widely  known  ministers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  this  State,  was  born  in  Durham,  Greene 
county,  New  York,  on  the  15th  of  October,  1824.  He  began  life  as  a 
farmer,  and  early  attained  a  fair  education.  During  his  boyhood,  he 
acquired  an  insatiable  desire  for  knowledge,  and  soon  became  a  constant 
reader,  which  laid  the  foundation  of  that  general  inf ormation  and  literary 
discrimination  which  has  since  characterized  him  and  been  the  occasion 
of  directing  him  to  the  peculiar  sphere  of  activity  that  he  now  occupies. 

Mr.  Arnold  came  to  Detroit  in  1861,  as  pastor  of  the  First  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term  with  that  church  he  com- 


310  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

watched  with  anxious  vigilance.  The  night  set  in  with  darkness 
so  complete,  that,  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods,  nothing  could  be 
discerned.  Meantime,  three  hundred  and  fifty  Indians,  in  their 
birch  canoes,  glided  silently  down  the  current,  and  were  close 
upon  the  vessel  before  they  were  seen.  There  was  only  time  to 
fire  a  single  cannon  shot  among  them  before  they  were  beneath 
her  bows,  and  clambering  up  her  sides,  holding  their  knives 
clenched  fast  between  their  teeth.  The  crew  gave  them  a  close 
fire  of  musketry,  without  any  effect ;  then,  flinging  down  their 
guns,  they  seized  the  spears  and  hatchets,  with  which  they  were  all 
provided,  and  met  the  assailants  with  such  furious  energy  and 
courage,  that,  in  the  space  of  two  or  three  minutes,  they  had 
killed  and  wounded  more  than  twice  their  own  number.  But 
the  Indians  were  only  checked  for  a  moment.  The  master  of  the 
vessel  was  killed,  several  of  the  crew  were  disabled,  and  the 
assailants  were  leaping  over  the  bulwarks,  when  Jacobs,  the  mate, 
called  out  to  blow  up  the  schooner. 

This  desperate  command  saved  her  and  her  crew.  Some  Wyan- 
dots,  who  had  gained  the  deck,  caught  the  meaning  of  his  words, 
and  gave  the  alarm  to  their  companions.  Instantly,  every  Indian 
leaped  overboard  in  a  panic,  and  the  whole  were  seen  diving  and 

menced  the  organization  of  the  Detroit  Book  Depository,  under  the 
auspices  of  his  denomination,  which  has  since  grown  into  a  large  and 
flourishing  business  institution,  and  is  now  conducted  under  the  name  of 
J.  M.  Arnold  &  Co.  Mr.  Arnold  is  widely  known  as  an  enthusiastic  and 
penetrating  book  dealer,  buying  and  selling,  under  protest  only,  any  pub 
lication  that  does  not  tend  to  improve  the  head  or  heart,  and  has  built  up 
his  present  business  without  pandering  in  the  least  to  that  class  of 
literature  which  tends  to  demoralize  the  younger  portion  of  our  popu 
lation. 

Aside  from  attending  to  his  business,  Mr.  Arnold  continues  to  fill  some 
one  of  the  various  pulpits  of  his  own  and  other  denominations,  through 
out  the  State,  during  the  majority  of  the  Sabbaths  in  the  year,  in  a  highly 
acceptable  manner.  For  a  number  of  years,  he  has  held  from  his 
conference  the  appointment  of  Sabbath  school  agent.  In  performing  the 
duties  of  this  position,  he  travels  extensively,  lecturing  and  preaching  in 
all  portions  of  the  State,  and  is  a  man  of  wide  personal  influence  in  his 
own  and  other  denominations. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  311 

swimming  off  in  all  directions,  to  escape  the  threatened  explosion. 
The  schooner  was  cleared  of  her  assailants,  who  did  not  dare  to 
renew  the  attack ;  and,  on  the  following  morning,  she  sailed  for 
the  fort,  which  she  reached  without  molestation.  Six  of  her  crew 
escaped  unhurt.  Of  the  remainder,  two  were  killed,  and  four 
seriously  wounded  ;  while  the  Indians  had  seven  men  killed  upon 
the  spot,  and  nearly  twenty  wounded,  of  whom  eight  were  known 
to  have  died  within  a  few  days  after.  As  the  action  was  very 
brief,  the  fierceness  of  the  struggle  is  sufficiently  apparent  from 
the  loss  on  both  sides. 

The  appearance  of  the  men,  says  an  eye-witness  who  saw  them 
on  their  arrival,  was  enough  to  convince  every  one  of  their  brav 
ery,  they  being  as  bloody  as  butchers,  and  their  bayonets,  spears 
and  cutlasses  bloody  to  the  hilt.  The  survivors  of  the  crew  were 
afterwards  rewarded  as  their  courage  deserved.  The  schooner,  so 
boldly  defended  by  her  crew  against  a  force  of  more  than  twenty 
times  their  number,  brought  to  the  fort  a  much  needed  supply  of 
provisions.  It  was  not,  however,  adequate  to  the  wants  of  the 
garrison,  and  the  whole  were  put  upon  the  shortest  possible  allow 
ance. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


CONCLUSION  OP  PONTIAC'S  WAR — THE  SIEGE  OP  DETROIT  RAISED — 
BRADSTREET  IN  THE  WEST — THE  ENGLISH  AT  PEACE — THE  REVOLU 
TIONARY  WAR — INSTIGATING  SAVAGES  TO  TAKE  AMERICAN  SCALPS — 
CAPTAIN  BYRD'S  EXPEDITION — HAMILTON'S  EXPEDITION — His  CAP 
TURE — DE  PEYSTER  COMMANDS  AT  DETROIT — AMERICAN  LIBERTY 
TRIUMPHANT — PEACE  RESTORED. 

IT  WAS  now  the  end  of  September.  The  Indians  had  pressed 
the  siege  with  a  determination  unknown  to  their  race,  since  the 
beginning  of  May ;  but  at  length  their  constancy  began  to  wane. 
The  tidings  that  Major  Wilkins  was  approaching  with  a  strong 
detachment  reached  their  camp,  and  they  began  to  fear  the  con 
sequences  of  an  attack,  especially  as  their  ammunition  was  nearly 
expended.  By  this  time,  most  of  the  tribes  around  Detroit  were 
disposed  to  sue  for  peace.  They  wished  to  retire  unmolested  to 
their  wintering  grounds,  and  renew  the  war  in  the  spring.  Accord 
ingly,  on  the  twelfth  of  October,  Wapocomoguth,  great  chief  of 
the  Mississaugas,  visited  the  fort  with  a  pipe  of  peace.  He  made; 
a  speech  to  Major  Gladwyn,  asking  for  peace,  to  which  the  conn 
mandant  replied,  telling  him  that  he  could  not  himself  granli 
peace,  but  would  consent  to  a  truce.  This  was  accepted,  and 
Gladwyn  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  collect  provisions 
from  the  Canadians,  and  succeeded  so  well  that  the  fort  was  soor 
furnished  for  the  winter.  After  overtures  of  peace,  Pontiac  with 
drew,  with  his  chiefs,  to  the  Maumee,  to  stir  up  the  Indians  ii 
that  quarter,  with  a  view  of  resuming  the  war  in  the  spring. 

About  the  middle  of  November,  after  quiet  had  been  restore* 
around  the  fort  at  Detroit,  two  friendly  Indians  visited  the  fort 
and  one  of  them  took  a  closely  folded  letter  from  his  powdei 
horn  and  handed  it  to  Gladwyn.  The  note  was  from  Major  Wij 
kins,  and  contained  the  disastrous  news  that  the  detachmerj 


HISTORY  OF   MICHIGAN. 


313 


under  his  command  had  been  overtaken  by  a  storm ;  that  many 
of  the  boats  had  been  wrecked  ;  that  seventy  men  had  perished  ; 
that  all  its  stores  and  ammunition  had  been  destroyed,  and  the 
detachment  forced  to  return  to  Niagara.  This  intelligence  had 


HON.   R.   P.   ELDRIDGE. 

ROBERT  P.  ELDRIDGE,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  the  Sixteenth  Judicial 
Circuit,  was  born  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  in  the  township  of  Green 
wich,  Washington  county,  New  York,  in  1808. 

The  winter  after  he  was  six  years  of  age,  his  father  moved  to  Lebanon, 
Madison  county,  and  from  there  to  the  township  of  Hamilton,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  west  branch  of  the  Chenango  river,  in  the  same  county.  The 
spring  after  he  reached  his  fourteenth  year,  he  was  sent  to  the  academy 
at  the  village  of  Hamilton  to  prepare  for  a  collegiate  education,  but  his 


314  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

an  effect  upon  the  garrison  which  rendered  the  prospect  of 
the  cold  and  cheerless  winter  yet  more  dreary  and  forlorn.  But 
the  winter  came,  and  was  endured  by  these  hardy  soldiers ;  and, 
with  the  return  of  spring  their  savage  enemies  began  to  appear. 
They  endured  their  assaults  until  the  twenty-sixth  of  August, 
when  Bradstreet's  fleet  came  sailing  up  the  river,  to  the  relief  of 
the  disconsolate  garrison.  They  were  welcomed  by  the  cannon  of 
the  garrison,  and  cheer  after  cheer  pealed  forth  from  the  crowded 
ramparts.  Well  might  Gladwyn  and  his  soldiers  rejoice  at  the 
approaching  succor.  They  had  been  beset  for  more  than  fifteen 
months  by  their  savage  enemies;  and,  though  there  were  times 
when  not  an  Indian  could  be  seen,  yet  woe  to  the  soldier  who 
should  wander  into  the  forest  in  search  of  game,  or  stroll  too  far 
beyond  range  of  the  cannon. 

The  army  had  no  sooner  landed  than  the  garrison  was  relieved 
and  fresh  troops  substituted  in  their  place.  Bradstreet  next 
inquired  into  the  conduct  of  the  Canadians  of  Detroit,  and  pun 
ished  such  of  them  as  had  given  aid  to  the  Indians.  A  few  only 
were  found  guilty,  the  more  culpable  having  fled  to  the  Illinois, 
on  the  approach  of  the  army.  Pontiac,  too,  was  gone.  The  great 
war  chief — his  vengeance  unslaked,  and  his  purpose  unshaken — 

mother  dying  when  he  was  sixteen,  his  father's  family  was  broken  up; 
the  children,  of  which  there  were  eight,  were  separated  and  never  again 
were  they  all  assembled  under  the  one  roof.  From  this  time,  he  was 
compelled  to  teach  school  winters  in  order  to  study  summers,  and  from 
necessity  was  obliged  to  abandon  the  idea  of  "going  through  college." 

In  his  seventeenth  year,  at  the  earnest  request  of  his  father,  he  entered 
the  law  office  of  Stowe  &  Girdly,  one  of  the  most  eminent  law  firms  of 
Madison  county,  New  York.  While  in  this  law  office,  he  was  required 
to  labor  very  hard  at  the  table,  copying;  yet  he  received  much  valuable 
information  from  Judge  Girdly,  in  the  science  of  the  profession  he  was 
destined  to  pursue. 

At  the  close  of  his  school  in  the  spring  of  1826,  after  paying  his  little 
necessary  indebtedness,  he  found  himself  the  owner  of  twenty  dollars, 
and  with  this  amount  he  started  for  the  territory  of  Michigan,  being 
utterly  unacquainted  with  the  world,  and  with  no  practical  experience  in 
any  business,  except  school  teaching. 

Mr.  Eldridge  landed  in  Detroit  on  the  26th  day  of  May,  1826,  poorly 


OF   MICHIGAN.  31 5 

had  retired  to  the  banks  of  the  Maumee,  whence  he  sent  a 
haughty  defiance  to  the  English  commander.  The  Indian  vil 
lages  near  Detroit  were  half  emptied  of  their  inhabitants,  many 
of  whom  still  followed  the  desperate  fortunes  of  their  indomitable 
leader.  Those  who  remained  were,  for  the  most  part,  brought  by 
famine  and  misery  to  a  sincere  desire  for  peace,  and  readily  obeyed 
the  summons  of  Bradstreet  to  meet  him  in  council. 

The  council  was  held  in  the  open  air,  on  the  morning  of  the 
seventh  of  September,  with  all  the  accompaniments  of  military 
display  which  could  inspire  awe  and  respect  among  the  assembled 
savages.  The  tribes,  or,  rather,  fragments  of  tribes,  represented 
at  this  meeting,  were  the  Ottawas,  Ojibwas,  Pottawattamies, 
Miamis,  Sacs,  and  Wyandots.  The  Indians  of  Sandusky  kept 
imperfectly  the  promise  they  had  made,  the  Wyandots  of  that 
place  alone  sending  a  full  deputation  ;  while  the  other  tribes  were 
merely  represented  by  the  Ojibwa  chief,  Wasson.  This  man,  who 
was  the  principal  chief  of  his  tribe,  and  the  most  prominent 
orator  on  the  present  occasion,  rose  and  opened  the  council.  He 
frankly  confessed  that  the  tribes  which  he  represented  were  all 
justly  chargeable  with  the  war,  and  now  deeply  regretted  it. 
Bradstreet  would  grant  peace  only  on  condition  that  they  should 

clad,  and  with  ten  shillings  as  the  sum  total  of  his  capital.  After  a  short 
time,  some  gentlemen  in  Detroit  with  the  under-sherifF  of  Wayne  county, 
fitted  up  the  "  debtors  room,"  in  the  jail,  for  a  school  room,  and  he  went 
to  teaching  their  boys  at  $8.00  per  quarter.  At  the  end  of  six  weeks, 
pleasantly  occupied  in  conducting  his  school,  he  was  stricken  down  by  a 
severe  attack  of  bilious  fever,  which,  had  it  not  been  for  the  kind  care  of 
a  Mr.  Seymour,  with  whom  he  boarded,  and  a  naturally  strong  constitu 
tion,  woujd  have  proved  fatal.  Recovering,  he  collected  what  was  due 
him,  paid  his  debts,  and  with  the  remainder,  one  dollar  and  a  half,  paid 
his  stage  fare  to  Pontiac,  Michigan,  where  he  had  engaged  to  teach 
school  during  the  winter  of  1826-27.  While  teaching  this  school,  he 
devoted  his  evenings  and  Saturdays  to  recording  deeds  in  the  register  of 
deeds  office  for  Oakland  county.  Aside  from  this,  he  found  some  time 
to  pursue  his  legal  studies  in  the  office  of  Governor  Richardson.  During 
this  winter,  he  was  severely  afflicted  with  inflammation  of  the  eyes,  the 
healing  of  which  cost  him  more  than  what  he  had  earned  teaching 
school. 


316  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

become  subjects  of  the  King  of  England,  and  acknowledge  that 
he  held  over  their  country  a  sovereignty  as  ample  and  complete 
as  over  any  other  part  of  his  dominions.  Nothing  could  be  more 
impolitic  than  this  demand ;  but,  happily,  not  a  savage  present 
was  able  to  comprehend  it.  The  terms,  therefore,  met  with  a 
ready  assent.  They  promised  in  the  future  to  call  the  English 
King  father,  instead  of  brother. 

A  deputation  was  sent  to  Pontiac,  who  had  retired  to  the  Mau- 
mee,  and  that  chief  agreed  to  lead  the  nations  to  war  no  more ; 
but  declared  that  he  would  never  become  a  friend  to  the  English ; 
although,  two  years  afterwards,  he  was  declaring  himself  the  fast 
friend  of  that  nation,  in  a  speech  to  Sir  William  Johnson.  In 
1769,  this  great  chief  and  warrior  met  his  death,  in  Illinois,  at 
the  hands  of  an  Indian  of  the  Kaskaskia  tribe,  who  was  induced 
to  commit  the  crime  for  a  barrel  of  whisky,  by  an  Englishman, 
named  Williamson. 

Bradstreet  left  Detroit,  to  compel  Indian  submission  elsewhere  ; 
and  left  the  little  garrison  enjoying  the  luxury  of  peace.  Now 
that  the  insurrection  was  quelled,  the  British  adopted  a  system  of 
conciliatory  measures,  to  secure  the  good-will  of  the  disaffected 
tribes  ;  small  grants  of  land  were  made  around  the  posts,  and  the 

In  the  following  summer,  he  found  it  necessary  to  seek  a  new  location, 
and,  borrowing  a  friend's  horse,  he  rode  down  to  Mt.  Clemens,  in  Macomb 
county,  and,  after  an  examination,  decided  to  locate  there.  Accordingly, 
on  the  3d  of  July,  1827,  he  started  out  on  foot  from  Pontiac,  and  after  a 
fatiguing  march  reached  Mt.  Clemens  the  next  day.  Here  he  went  into  the 
employ  of  a  merchant  by  the  name  of  Ashley,  working  for  his  board. 
In  the  fall  following,  his  father  sent  him  a  few  law  books,  mostly 
elementary.  Being  obliged  to  leave  Mr.  Ashley's  house  on  account  of 
sickness  in  that  family,  he  commenced  keeping  bachelor's  hall,  and 
reading  his  law  books  preparatory  to  being  admitted  by  the  supreme 
court  of  the  territory  as  soon  as  he  attained  his  majority.  In  the  fall  of 
1828,  he  applied  for  admission.  His  examination  was  in  open  court,  and 
after  being  thoroughly  quizzed  by  six  of  the  ablest  lawyers  in  Detroit, 
before  Judges  Sibley  and  Chipman,  he  was  admitted  as  an  attorney  at  law 
and  solicitor  in  chancery.  The  court  at  that  time  was  held  in  the  old 
State  capital,  and  he  was  stopping  at  "Uncle  Ben's  Steamboat  Hotel,'' 
but  in  going  from  the  former  to  the  latter,  after  passing  his  examination, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  317 

Indians  themselves  were  induced  to  cede  portions  of  their  terri 
tory  for  a  trifling  consideration.  The  French  settlements  extended 
in  a  short  time  along  the  banks  of  the  Detroit  and  St.  Clair  riv 
ers  to  a  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  above  and  below  Detroit. 
The  latter  continued  to  be  the  most  prominent  post,  and  in  1766 
the  town  contained  more  than  a  hundred  houses,  independent  of 
the  barracks.  To  the  west  of  the  latter  lay  the  commons,  which 
was  also  called  the  King's  Garden.  The  post  was  surrounded  by 
pickets,  mounted  with  small  cannon,  and  was  garrisoned  by  two 
hundred  soldiers. 

Meanwhile,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  extended  its  operations 
through  the  wilderness  which  had,  for  a  century  previous  been  the 
ranging  ground  of  the  French  traders.  This  company  had  been 
chartered,  in  1669,  by  Charles  II.  That  charter,  granted  to  a 
company  of  English  merchants,  authorized  them  to  occupy  a  very 
extensive  region,  for  the  prosecution  of  the  fur  trade ;  to  estab 
lish  military  posts  for  their  defense,  and  to  traffic  with  the  native 
tribes.  In  1766,  individual  adventurers  began  to  extend  their 
operations  along  the  lake  shores,  in  the  same  track  that  had  for 
merly  been  pursued  by  the  French,  and  soon  came  in  collision 
with  the  large  companies,  which  were  striving  to  occupy  the  whole 
territory  for  their  exclusive  benefit. 

he  has  no  recollection  of  passing  any  houses  or  pedestrians  on  the  way. 
Returning  to  Mt.  Clemens,  he  "put  out  his  shingle."  Mr.  Eldridge  was 
then  the  only  lawyer  in  that  county,  and  the  good  people  in  it  were  sober 
and  industrious,  and  derived  more  pleasure  and  profit  in  cultivating  their 
farms  than  in  contentions  and  law  suits,  which  made  the  prospects  for  a 
young  lawyer,  without  means,  relatives  or  influential  friends  to  aid  him, 
look  very  gloomy  indeed.  He  would  undoubtedly  have  sought  a  new 
location,  only  that  poverty  held  him  there  with  a  firm  grip.  The  county 
improved  rapidly,  however,  settlers  increased  and  grew  wealthy,  another 
lawyer  located  in  the  county,  and  then  many  suddenly  discovered  that 
they  had  received  injuries  at  the  hands  of  their  neighbors,  which  their 
duty  to  themselves  and  society  required  them  to  have  righted.  From  this 
time,  Mr.  Eldridge  found  it  easy  to  support  himself  and  family  and  to 
put  away  a  few  dollars  for  future  contingencies. 

He  soon  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and,  having  been  educated  a 
Democrat,  he  was  a  warm  supporter  of  Jackson  and  Van  Buren,  and  the 
Democratic  nominees  for  _State  and  county  offices.  In  February,  1842, 


318  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

The  English  made  but  little  change,  either  in  the  laws  or  in 
their  administration,  and  pursued  the  same  general  policy  as  their 
predecessors,  the  French.  The  commandants  of  the  posts, 
although  responsible  to  the  Governor-General  at  Quebec,  were 
still  possessed  of  a  discretionary  power  which  was  all  but  abso 
lute,  and  which  they  exercised  in  a  highly  arbitrary  manner.  In 
1774,  while  Governor  Hamilton  was  commanding  at  Detroit,  an 
act  was  passed,  called  the  Quebec  Act,  establishing  the  bounda 
ries  of  Canada,  including  Michigan,  and  extending  thence  to  the 
Mississippi  and  Ohio  Rivers,  on  the  south,  and  north,  from  the  St. 
Lawrence  to  the  latitude  of  52°,  or,  to  the  lands  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company.  This  act  granted  to  the  Catholic  inhabitants  the 
free  exercise  of  their  religion,  the  undisturbed  possession  of  their 
church  property,  and  the  right,  in  all  matters  of  litigation,  to 
demand  a  trial  according  to  the  former  laws  of  the  province. 
But  this  right  was  not  extended  to  the  settlers  on  lands  granted 
by  the  English  Crown.  The  criminal  laws  of  England  were 
introduced  into  Canada,  and  the  Crown  reserved  to  itself  the  right 
of  establishing  courts  of  civil,  criminal  and  ecclesiastical  juris 
diction. 

The  enterprise  of  the  people  was  not  wholly  confined  to  the  fur 
trade.  As  early  as  1773,  the  mineral  regions  of  Lake  Superior 

Mr.  Eldridge  was  appointed  to  the  prominent  position  of  secretary  of  State 
by  Governor  Barry,  which  office  he  held  by  reappointment  during  the 
four  years  of  Governor  Barry's  administration.  In  the  fall  of  1846,  he 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  senate,  and,  in  the  winter  of  1847, 
attended  as  a  senator  the  first  session  of  the  legislature  held  at  Lansing. 
With  the  close  of  that  session,  he  ended  his  public  labors,  and  severed 
his  connection  with  politics  so  far  as  holding  or  seeking  to  hold  any 
office  was  concerned. 

Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  as  secretary  of  State,  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mt.  Clemens,  and  now,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-five,  he  is  actively  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of  it.  He  is  as 
attached  to  it  now  as  when  compelled  to  depend  upon  its  receipts  to  sup 
port  his  family  and  educate  his  children.  He  looks  upon  the  law  as  a 
noble  science;  he  esteems  and  reverences  it;  he  loves  its  practice,  and  he 
is  now  and  ever  has  been  an  honor  to  the  profession,  occupying  a  position 
among  the  eminent  lawyers  of  the  State. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  819 

were  visited  ;  and  a  project  was  formed  for  working  the  copper 
ore  discovered  there,  and  a  company  in  England  had  obtained  a 
charter  for  that  purpose.  A  sloop  was  purchased  and  the  miners 
commenced  operations,  but  soon  found,  however,  that  the  expenses 
of  blasting  and  of  transportation  were  too  great  to  warrant  the 
prosecution  of  the  enterprise,  and  it  was  abandoned.  In  1783, 
several  influential  merchants,  who  had  been  individually  engaged 
in  the  fur  trade,  entered  into  partnership  for  its  more  successful 
prosecution,  and  established  what  was  styled  the  Northwest  Fur 
Company.  In  1787,  the  shareholders  appointed  from  their  num 
ber  special  agents,  to  import  from  England  such  goods  as  might 
be  required,  and  to  store  them  at  Montreal.  This  plan  of  con 
ducting  the  trade  was  not  dissimilar  to  that  which  had  been  pur 
sued  by  the  French.  Storehouses  were  erected  at  convenient 
places  on  the  borders  of  the  lakes ;  and  the  posts  formerly  occu 
pied  by  the  French  were  used  for  the  same  purpose.  Agents  were 
sent  to  Detroit,  Mackinaw,  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  and  the  Grand 
Portage,  near  Lake  Superior,  who  packed  the  furs  and  sent  them 
to  Montreal,  for  shipment  to  England.  The  most  important 
point  of  the  fur  trade  was  the  Grand  Portage  of  Lake  Superior. 
Here  the  proprietors  of  the  establishment,  the  guides,  clerks  and 
interpreters,  messed  together  in  a  large  hall,  while  the  canoe  men 
were  allowed  only  a  dish  of  "  hominy,"  consisting  of  Indian  corn 
boiled  in  a  strong  alkali,  and  seasoned  with  fat.  Thus,  this  inter 
esting  trade,  which  had  been  carried  on  for  more  than  a  century, 
still  continued  to  circulate  in  its  ordinary  channels,  along  the 
waters  of  the  lakes. 

But  the  spirit  of  mercantile  rivalry  was  carried  to  a  great 
extent,  and  unhappily,  excited  the  worst  passions  of  those  inter 
ested  in  the  several  companies.  The  employes  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  and  Northwest  Companies,  the  boundaries  of  which  were  not 
very  clearly  defined,  often  came  into  active  and  desperate  con 
flict,  and  made  repeated  attacks  upon  the  trading  posts  of  each 
other.  Lord  Selkirk,  however,  having  placed  himself  at  the  head 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  succeeded  at  length  in  uniting 
the  stock  of  the  two  companies,  and  this  put  an  end  to  the  strife. 
These  two  companies  held  dominion  over  the  territory  bordering 


320  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

on  the  lakes,  and  studied  only  to  keep  it  a  barren  wilderness,  that 
their  trade  might  be  preserved  and  prolonged. 

The  American  revolution  was  already  bursting  forth ;  but, 
during  this  eventful  struggle,  the  territory  of  the  present  State 
of  Michigan,  from  its  remote  situation,  was  but  little  affected  by 
the  war,  though  the  Indians  within  its  borders  were  employed  to 
harass  the  American  settlements  upon  the  frontiers  of  New  York, 
Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  Detroit  and  Michilimackinac  were, 
during  this  period,  the  points  of  greatest  interest.  At  these  posts 
the  Indian  warriors  were  assembled,  and  furnished  with  arms 
and  ammunition,  and  from  thence  they  were  dispatched  against 
the  nearest  American  settlements,  to  burn  and  destroy,  and  to 
massacre  and  scalp  the  defenseless  inhabitants.  On  their 
return  from  such  murderous  expeditions,  these  savage  allies  were 
met  by  the  British  commanders  in  the  council  houses  of  Michili 
mackinac  and  Detroit,  and  there  paid  a  stipulated  price  for  the 
scalps  which  they  brought.  In  some  instances,  the  Indians  were 
supported  in  these  expeditions  by  the  regular  troops  and  local 
militia. 

One  of  these  joint  expeditions,  commanded  by  Captain  Byrd, 
set  out  from  Detroit  to  attack  Louisville.  It  proceeded  in  boats 
as  far  as  it  could  ascend  the  Maumee,  and  from  thence  crossed 
over  to  the  Ohio,  and  marched  to  Ruddle's  Station.  This  post 
surrendered  at  once,  without  fighting,  under  the  promise  of  being 
protected  from  the  Indians.  This  promise,  however,  was  violated, 
and  the  prisoners  were  all  massacred.  A  small  stockade,  called 
Martin's  Station,  was  also  taken  by  the  same  commander,  and  his 
march  through  the  whole  region  was  attended  with  the  utmost 
consternation. 

Another  expedition,  under  Governor  Hamilton,  the  command 
ant  of  Detroit,  started  out  in  1778.  The  commander  appeared 
before  the  fort  of  Vincennes,  in  December,  with  an  army  of  thirty 
regulars,  fifty  French  volunteers,  and  four  hundred  Indians.  The 
people  living  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  fort  made  no  effort  to 
defend  it,  and  the  only  garrison  within  its  walls  wras  Captain 
Helm,  and  a  private  soldier,  called  Henry.  Seeing  the  troops  at 
a  distance,  they  loaded  a  cannon,  which  they  placed  in  the  open 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


-    321 


gateway  ;  and  the  commandant  of  the  fort,  Captain  Helm,  stood 
by  the  cannon  with  a  lighted  match.  When  Governor  Hamilton 
and  his  military  approached  within  hailing  distance,  Helm  called 
out  with  a  loud  voice,  "  Halt !"  This  show  of  resistance  made 


HON.  W.  L.  WEBBER. 

WILLIAM  L.  WEBBER,  of  East  ^Saginaw,  was  born  July  19,  1825,  at 
Ogden,  Monroe  county,  New  York. 

In  June,  1836,  lie  came  with  his  father  and  family  to  Michigan,  and 
settled  in  Hartland,  Livingston  county.  He  studied  medicine  two  years, 
in  1847-8,  at  Milford,  Oakland  county,  when,  discovering  that  the  law 
would  be  more  congenial  to  his  taste,  he  changed  his  reading  to  fit  him 
self  for  the  latter  profession,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851.  He 
removed  to  East  Saginaw  in  March,  1853,  where  he  at  once  took  a  lead- 
21 


322  GENERAL  HISTORY   OP   THE  STATES. 

Hamilton  stop  and  demand  a  surrender  of  the  garrison.  "  No 
man,"  exclaimed  Helm,  with  an  oath,  "enters  here  until  I  know  the 
terms."  Hamilton  replied,  "  You  shall  have  the  honors  of  war." 
Helm  thereupon  surrendered  the  fort,  and  the  whole  garrison, 
consisting  of  the  two  already  named,  marched  out  and  received 
the  customary  marks  of  respect  for  their  brave  defense.  Hamil 
ton  was  afterwards  met  by  General  Clark,  to  whom  he  surren 
dered.  The  British  soldiers  were  suffered  to  return  to  Detroit ; 
but  their  commander,  who  was  known  to  have  been  active  in 
instigating  Indian  barbarities,  was  placed  in  irons,  and  sent  to 
Virginia  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

The  pious  Moravian  missionaries,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mus- 
kingum,  did  not  escape  the  hand  of  the  English  at  Detroit.  They 
were  suspected  of  holding  a  secret  correspondence  with  the  Con 
gress  at  Philadelphia,  and  of  contributing  their  influence,  as  well 
as  that  of  their  Indian  congregation,  to  aid  the  American  cause. 
Deputies  were  therefore  sent  to  Niagara,  and  a  grand  council  of 
the  Iroquois  was  assembled,  at  which  those  Indians  were  urged  to 
break  up  the  Indian  congregation  collected  by  the  Moravians. 
These  tribes,  not  wishing  to  have  anything  to  do  with  it,  sent  a 
message  to  the  Chippewas  and  Ottawas,  with  a  belt,  stating  that 
they  gave  the  Indian  congregation  into  their  hands,  "to  make 
soup  of." 

ing  position  as  a  lawyer.  For  many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the 
prominent  lawyers  of  Northern  Michigan.  As  a  practitioner  he  was  studi 
ous,  mastering  all  the  law  applicable  to  his  cases,  painstaking  to  learn 
all  the  facts  from  his  client,  alert  to  find  out  whatever  was  to  be  known 
in  advance  about  the  plans  of  his  adversary,  self-possessed  and  dignified 
in  his  conduct  on  the  trial  of  cases,  affable  and  fair  to  his  brethren  in  the 
profession,  and,  withal,  zealous  for  his  client.  He  was  ever  candid  and 
faithful  in  his  relations,  professional  and  otherwise,  keeping  faith  with 
everybody,  as  a  matter  of  conscience  and  honor. 

Latterly,  for  several  years,  he  was  been  intimately  associated  with  the 
Flint  &  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  as  its  attorney,  and  commissioner  for 
the  care  and  disposition  of  its  large  land  grant.  For  this  position  he 
gave  up  general  practice.  By  his  judicious  management  of  this  land 
department,  he  has  very  largely  contributed  to  the  interior  of  the  State 
north  of  the  Saginaw  river.  He  is  at  present  mayor  of  the  city  of  East 
Saginaw. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  323 

In  1781,  these  Moravian  missionaries  arrived  at  Detroit,  when 
they  were  brought  before  De  Peyster,  the  commandant.  A  war 
council  was  held,  and  the  council  house  completely  filled  with 
Indians.  Captain  Pipe,  an  Indian  chief,  addressed  the  assembly, 
and  told  the  commandant  that  "  the  English  might  fight  the 
Americans  if  they  chose ;  it  was  their  cause,  and  not  his ;  that 
they  had  raised  a  quarrel  among  themselves,  and  it  was  their 
business  to  fight  it  out.  They  had  set  him  on  the  Americans,  as 
the  hunter  sets  his  dog  upon  the  game."  By  the  side  of  the 
British  commander  stood  another  war  chief,  with  a  stick  in  his 
hand,  four  feet  in  length,  strung  with  American  scalps.  This 
warrior  followed  Captain  Pipe,  saying :  "  Now,  father,  here  is 
what  has  been  done  with  the  hatchet  you  gave  me.  I  have 
made  the  use  of  it  that  you  ordered  me  to  do,  and  found  it 
sharp." 

Such  were  the  scenes  at  Detroit  that  occurred  frequently,  from 
the  close  of  the  Pontiac  war  till  the  advent  of  the  "  stars  and 
stripes."  During  the  whole  course  of  the  revolutionary  war,  the 
savage  tribes  in  this  vicinity  were  instigated  to  commit  the  most 
atrocious  cruelties  against  the  defenseless  American  settlements. 
Every  avenue  was  closed  whereby  a  different  influence  might  be 
introduced  among  them,  and  they  were  made  to  believe  that  the 
Americans  were  only  seeking  to  possess  themselves  of  their  lands, 
and  to  drive  them  away  from  the  territory  they  had  inherited 
from  their  fathers.  But,  at  last,  the  great  cause  of  American  free 
dom  was  triumphant.  The  treaty  of  Versailles  was  concluded  in 
1783,  and  the  settlers  of  Michigan  were  once  more  permitted  to 
renew  their  labors  in  comparative  peace. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  RETENTION  OF  THE  WESTERN  POSTS  BY  GREAT  BRITAIN  AFTER 
THE  TREATY  OF  1783  —  NORTHWESTERN  TERRITORY  ORGANIZED — 
INDIAN  TROUBLES  AGAIN — THE  GREAT  WAR  COUNCIL  AT  DETROIT 
— CAMPAIGN  OF  GENERAL  HARMER — ST.  GLAIR'S  DEFEAT — WAYNE'S 
VICTORIES —MICHIGAN  SURRENDERED  TO  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

WE  HAVE  said  that  the  war  was  ended  and  peace  established ; 
but  no  sooner  was  a  treaty  of  peace  concluded,  than  new  troubles 
began  to  arise.  We  have  seen  how,  during  the  revolutionary  war, 
the  western  outposts  of  Great  Britain  were  instrumental  in  send 
ing  the  savages  against  the  weak  settlements ;  and,  now  that  the 
Americans  had  been  victorious,  England  refused  to  withdraw  her 
troops  from  the  garrisons  in  the  lake  region.  However,  by  the 
second  article  of  Jay's  treaty,  in  1794,  it  was  provided  that  the 
British  troops  should  be  withdrawn  from  all  the  posts  assigned  to 
the  United  States  by  the  former  treaty  of  1783,  on  or  before  the 
first  day  of  June,  1796.  This  matter  being  settled,  the  American 
people  turned  their  attention  to  the  Northwest,  with  a  view  to  its 
settlement ;  and  measures  were  accordingly  taken  for  its  tempo 
rary  government.  The  circumstance  which  had  more  particu 
larly  directed  the  public  attention  to  the  western  domain  was  a 
memorial  from  the  soldiers  and  officers  of  the  Revolutionary  army, 
presented  to  General  Washington  in  1783,  setting  forth  their 
claims  to  a  portion  of  the  public  lands.  One  difficulty  that  lay 
in  the  way  was  that  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  was 
claimed  by  several  of  the  Eastern  States,  on  the  ground  that  it 
was  included  within  the  limits  indicated  by  their  charter  from 
the  English  Crown.  But,  in  answer  to  the  wishes  of  the  govern 
ment  and  people,  these  States,  in  a  patriotic  spirit,  surrendered 
their  claims  to  this  extensive  territory,  that  it  might  constitute  a 
common  fund,  to  aid  in  the  payment  of  the  national  debt. 
Many  of  the  native  tribes  conveyed  to  the  United  States  their 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


325 


rights  to  territory  in  this  domain,  and  thus  was  the  way  prepared 
for  the  erection  of  the  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio.  A  gov 
ernment  was  formed  for  this  extensive  region,  with  Arthur  St. 
Clair  as  Governor;  and,  on  the  seventh  of  April,  1788,  a  com- 


CHESTER   B.  JONES. 

CHESTER  B.  JONES,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Western 
Pennsylvania,  September  11,  1823. 

At  an  early  age  he  passed  through  an  academic  course  of  education,  at 
Erie.  This  finished,  he  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  and  taught  school  there 
and  in  other  Southern  States  for  several  years.  Having  a  desire  for  an 
active  business  life,  he  connected  himself  with  a  mercantile  house,  and 
traveled  extensively  through  the  Union  representing  their  interests. 

In  1853,  he  became  connected  with  a  wealthy  lumber  firm  in  Albany, 


326  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

pany  of  forty-seven  individuals  landed  at  the  site  of  the  present 
town  of  Marietta,  and  there  commenced  the  settlement  of  Ohio. 

We  have  seen  that  the  western  posts  were  still  retained  by  the 
British  government.  This  gave  rise  to  several  questions  of  no 
little  interest,  which  excited  unfriendly  feelings  between  the  two 
nations,  and  which  largely  governed  their  policy.  Debts  due  by 
Americans  to  British  subjects,  the  payment  of  which  had  been 
guaranteed  by  the  treaty,  were  not  paid  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  slaves  belonging  to  Americans,  and  who  had  been  taken  away 
by  British  officers,  were  not  restored.  In  consequence  of  these, 
and  other  unsettled  matters,  when  Baron  Steuben  was  sent  by 
General  Washington  to  Sir  Frederic  Haldimand,  at  Quebec,  to 
arrange  for  the  occupation  of  these  posts,  with  instructions  to 
proceed  to  Michigan,  and  along  the  line  of  the  lake  frontier,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  them,  he  was  informed  that 
they  would  not  be  given  up,  and  was  refused  passports  to  Niagara 
and  Detroit. 

In  addition  to  the  retention  of  the  western  posts  by  the  English, 
a  new  confederacy  among  the  savages  was  organizing.  In  Decem 
ber,  1786,  a  grand  council  of  the  different  tribes  was  held  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river.  At  this  council  were  delegates 
from  all  the  nations  inhabiting  the  Northwest.  The  principal 
subject  of  discussion  appears  to  have  been  the  question  of  bound- 
New  York,  and  on  the  first  day  of  April  in  that  year  arrived  in  East 
Saginaw,  to  manage  their  interests  in  that  section.  Although  where  East 
Saginaw  now  stands  was  then  a  wilderness,  he  had  the  foresight  to  see 
that  the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  the  great  lumber  resources  of  that 
region  would  build  up  a  large  and  influential  city.  With  this  idea  in 
view,  he  at  once  went  to  work  with  the  intention  of  permanently  locating 
there.  Being  an  energetic,  Christian  young  man,  and  faithful  to  the 
trusts  consigned  to  his  care,  he  soon  built  up  an  enviable  reputation  for 
integrity  and  good  business  qualities.  Outsiders  availed  themselves  of 
his  knowledge  and  good  judgment,  and  he  rapidly  became  a  prominent 
purchaser  and  shipper  of  lumber.  He  is  also  largely  interested  in  real 
estate,  and  is  intimately  connected  with  the  growth  of  his  adopted  city. 

Being  of  a  retiring  disposition,  he  has  many  times  refused  offices  of 
public  trust,  which  his  fellow-citizens  wished  to  bestow  upon  him. 
However,  he  is  very  active  in  all  educational  affairs,  and  has  served 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  327 

ary.  It  was  contended  by  the  Indians  that  the  United  States  had 
no  right  to  cross  the  Ohio.  This  pending  outbreak  among  the 
savages  was  undoubtedly  the  work  of  the  English,  who  were  again 
seeking  their  aid  to  harass  the  Americans. 

England  set  forth  as  a  plea  for  retaining  the  western  posts,  that 
the  extensive  and  valuable  country  in  which  they  were  situated 
had  been  ceded  away  through  some  oversight  on  the  part  of  the 
commissioners,  or  from  their  ignorance  of  the  geography  of  the 
country ;  and  now,  aided  by  the  savages,  they  hoped  to  retain 
their  possessions  in  the  West,  It  was  at  this  juncture  that  Alex 
ander  McKenzie,  an  agent  of  the  British  government,  visited 
Detroit,  painted  like  an  Indian,  and  stated  that  he  had  just 
returned  from  the  remote  tribes  of  the  upper  lakes,  who  were  all 
in  arms,  and  prepared  to  oppose  the  claims  of  the  Americans  to 
the  western  lands  ;  that  large  bodies  of  warriors  had  already 
assembled,  and  that  they  were  about  to  attack  the  infant  settle 
ment  of  Ohio.  These  stories,  gotten  up  by  McKenzie,  succeeded 
as  he  had  desired.  In  1794,  an  agent  was  sent  from  the  Spanish 
settlements,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  for  the  same  object, 
and  to  hasten  the  organization  of  the  Indian  confederacy  against 
the  United  States.  Excited  by  his  speeches,  bands  of  savage  war 
riors,  armed  with  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife,  were  seen 
hastening  toward  the  lake  posts,  and  the  great  Indian  confeder 
acy  was  formed  against  the  Americans,  equaling  that  constituted 

several  years  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  his  city.  As 
chairman  of  the  building  committee  of  that  body,  he  has  been  very 
efficient,  as  the  many  beautiful  school-houses  in  East  Saginaw,  erected 
under  his  supervision,  bear  witness.  He  is  now  president  of  the  board. 

He  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  H.  Smith,  daughter  of  Hon.  Jeremiah 
Smith,  of  Grand  Blanc,  Michigan,  on  the  llth  of  January,  1859. 

In  religious  matters,  Mr.  Jones  is  liberal  and  generous,  and  takes  a 
prominent  part  in  the  advancement  of  all  good  works.  From  his  indus 
try  he  has  secured  a  competency,  which  is  freely  used  in  comforting  the 
sick  and  supplying  the  wants  of  the  poor.  He  is  a  true  friend  to  indus 
trious  young  men,  and  many  have  secured  positions  through  his  influence. 
He  is  truly  one  of  that  class  of  men  that  are  an  aid  to  the  community  in 
which  they  dwell,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  public  spirited  pioneers 
and  solid  men  of  the  Saginaw  valley. 


328  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

a  quarter  of  a  century  previous,  under  the  great  Pontiac,  against 
the  English  themselves. 

The  border  incursions  commenced  immediately,  and  again  the 
work  of  desolation  reigned  among  the  infant  settlements  on  the 
Ohio.  These  outbreaks,  which  were  believed  to  be  the  work  of 
the  British,  induced  the  American  government,  in  1790,  to  send 
General  Harmer,  an  able  officer,  with  an  army  to  quell  them.  He 
advanced  against  the  hostile  tribes  with  a  force  amounting  to  four 
teen*  hundred  men;  but,  imprudently  dividing  his  army,  he  was 
taken  by  surprise  and  defeated  by  a  body  of  Indians,  led  by  Little 
Turtle.  Harmer  having  failed,  General  St.  Clair  advanced  into  the 
Indian  country,  in  1792,  with  two  thousand  men.  This  army  was 
defeated  by  a  large  body  of  Indians  who  lay  in  ambush,  and  com 
pelled  to  retreat.  Efforts  were  now  put  forth  to  increase  the 
army ;  and,  in  1793,  General  Anthony  Wayne  succeeded  St. 
Clair  in  the  command  of  the  western  army.  Advancing  through 
the  forest  to  the  spot  which  had  been  rendered  memorable  by 
the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  he  there  constructed  a  fort,  and  called  it 
Fort  Recovery. 

Advancing  further  into  the  wilderness,  he  found  many  Indian 
villages  deserted.  At  the  Rapids  of  the  Maumee  he  erected 
Fort  Deposit,  where  he  stored  his  supplies.  They  were  now 
within  a  few  miles  of  a  British  post,  which  had  been  garrisoned 
by  soldiers  sent  from  Detroit,  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the 
Indians.  General  Wayne  had  been  instructed  to  use  his  English 
opponents  according  to  the  usages  of  war  ;  and,  with  a  bold  deter 
mination,  he  pushed  forward  to  the  enemy's  fort.  The  Indian 
force,  their  whole  strength  being  collected  at  this  point,  was,  in 
numbers,  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  Americans.  The  Indians 
were  stationed  in  a  dense  forest,  and  protected  by  the  bank  of  the 
river  and  a  breastwork  of  fallen  trees,  and  they  were  disposed  in 
three  lines,  within  supporting  distance  of  each  other.  The  bat 
tle  soon  followed ;  and,  through  stratagem,  Wayne  was  successful, 
and  completely  routed  the  savages.  He  destroyed  the  Indian 
villages  and  corn  fields  on  the  banks  of  the  Maumee,  and  pro 
ceeded  towards  Fort  Defiance.  Before  he  left  the  battle  ground, 
however,  he  paraded  his  force  in  front  of  the  British  post,  that 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  329 

they  might  see  its  strength ;  while  he  advanced  towards  the 
glacis,  to  examine  the  character  of  the  position,  and  to  ascertain, 
as  far  as  was  possible,  what  were  the  intentions  of  the  garrison. 
The  American  officers,  as  they  drew  near,  could  discover  the  Brit 
ish  soldiers,  with  matches  lighted  and  standing  by  their  guns, 
ready  for  any  emergency  that  might  arise.  General  Wayne 
finally  concluded  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  at  Greenville,  which 
effectually  broke  up  the  whole  confederacy. 

In  1795,  a  project  was  started,  which,  had  it  been  successful, 
would  have  injured  the  interests  of  the  West.  Robert  Randall 
and  Charles  Whitney,  of  Vermont,  in  connection  with  several 
merchants  of  Detroit,  entered  into  a  compact,  for  the  purpose  of 
appropriating  to  themselves  a  vast  territory,  comprising  nearly 
twenty  millions  of  acres,  situated  between  Lakes  Erie  and  Michi 
gan.  The  land  was  to  be  divided  into  a  number  of  shares,  and 
distributed  among  the  purchasers  and  the  members  of  Congress 
who  should  exert  their  influence  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the 
necessary  law.  But,  as  soon  as  the  corrupt  character  of  the  plot 
had  been  discovered,  the  two  principal  projectors  were  brought 
before  the  bar  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  On  hearing  the 
evidence,  Randall  was  discharged,  but  Whitney  was  fined  the 
amount  of  the  costs,  and  received  a  severe  reprimand. 

Wayne's  victory  having  broken  the  Indian  power,  and  the 
treaty  of  Greenville  binding  them  from  further  aggressions,  the 
Island  of  Mackinaw  and  the  fort  of  Detroit  were  surrendered 
by  the  English,  but  the  retiring  garrisons,  to  show  their  spite, 
locked  the  gates  of  the  fort,  broke  all  the  windows  in  the  bar 
racks,  and  filled  the  wells  with  stones,  so  as  to  annoy  the  new  occu 
pants  as  much  as  was  in  their  power. 

It  was  in  the  beginning  of  June,  1796,  that  Captain  Porter, 
with  a  detachment  of  American  troops,  entered  the  fort,  which 
had  been  previously  evacuated  by  the  British.  The  American 
flag  was  displayed,  and  the  dominion  of  the  country  peaceably 
transferred. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 


WILLIAM  HULL  APPOINTED  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  TERRITORY  OF  MICHI 
GAN — TECUMSEH'S  WARRIORS  ASSEMBLING — AN  ARMY  RAISED  IN 
OHIO — IT  MARCHES  TO  DETROIT  UNDER  GENERAL  HULL  —  WAR 
DECLARED  BETWEEN  ENGLAND  AND  THE  UNITED  STATES  —  HULL 
ADVANCES  INTO  CANADA. 

IT  WAS  a  considerable  time  before  the  Territory  of  Micnigan, 
now  in  the  possession  of  the  United  States,  was  improved  or 
altered  by  the  increase  of  settlements.  The  Canadian  French 
continued  to  form  the  principal  part  of  its  population.  The 
interior  of  the  country  was  but  little  known,  except  by  the  Indians 
and  the  fur  traders.  The  Indian  title  not  being  fully  extinguished, 
no  lands  were  brought  into  market,  and  consequently  the  settle 
ments  increased  but  slowly.  The  State  of  Michigan  at  this  time 
constituted  simply  the  county  of  Wayne  in  the  Northwest  terri 
tory.  It  sent  one  representative  to  the  legislature  of  that  territory, 
which  was  held  at  Chilicothe.  A  court  of  common  pleas  was 
organized  for  the  county,  and  the  general  court  of  the  whole 
territory  sometimes  met  at  Detroit.  No  roads  had  as  yet  been 
constructed  through  the  interior,  nor  were  there  any  settlements, 
except  on  the  frontiers.  The  habits  of  the  people  were  essentially 
military,  and  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  agriculture,  except 
by  the  French  peasantry.  A  representation  was  sent  to  the  gen 
eral  assembly  of  the  Northwest  territory  at  Chilicothe  until  1800, 
when  Indiana  was  erected  into  a  separate  territory.  Two  years 
later  Michigan  was  annexed  to  and  continued  to  be  a  part  of  the 
Territory  of  Indiana  until  1805,  when,  in  the  month  of  January 
of  that  year,  it  was  erected  into  a  separate  territory,  and  William 
Hull  appointed  its  first  governor. 

We  will  not  interrupt  the  narrative  here  to  notice  the  acts  of 
Governor  Hull's  administration  in  detail,  as  this  information  will 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


331 


be  found  in  succeeding  chapters  devoted  to  the  political  history  of 
Michigan. 

We  have  seen  that  Michigan  had  but  just  emerged  from  a  suc 
cession  of  Indian  wars,  and  now  another  was  evidently  preparing. 


HON.  JAMES    F.  JOY. 

JAMES  F.  JOY,  of  Detroit,  was  born  at  Durham,  New  Hampshire, 
December  2, 1810. 

His  father,  a  manufacturer  of  scythes  and  other  implements,  was  a  man 
of  iron  muscles,  large  brain,  and  great  mental  as  well  as  moral  power. 
Like  all  the  strong  men  of  New  England,  he  appreciated  the  value  of 
education,  and  a  moral  and  religious  culture  for  his  children,  and  so  he 
labored  earnestly  day  by  day  that  they  might  enjoy  those  advantages 
which  honest  poverty  had  denied  to  him.  He  was  a  man  who  practiced 


332  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

This  was  in  the  shape  of  another  confederacy,  which  was  directly 
instigated  by  the  English.  The  old  story  was  revived,  that  the 
Americans  were  about  to  drive  the  Indians  from  the  lands,  that 
they  might  occupy  them  themselves.  The  chief  projectors  of  this 
war  were  Tecumseh  and  his  brother,  the  prophet.  Tecumseh  led 
the  nations  to  war,  while  his  brother,  Elkswatawa,  operated  on 
the  minds  of  the  savages  by  means  of  superstition,  and  excited 
them  to  a  high  pitch  of  ferocity.  These  new  troubles  were  indeed 
nothing  more  than  the  Americans  might  have  expected.  The 
Indians  saw  a  new  power  encroaching  upon  the  inheritance  that 
had  been  handed  down  to  them  from  their  ancestors.  It  was  not 
difficult,  therefore,  to  unite  them  in  one  last  desperate  effort  to 
resist  this  usurping  power.  Their  titles  had  been  only  partially 
extinguished,  and  they  complained  that,  where  this  had  been  done, 
the  treaties  had  been  unfairly  conducted ;  that  the  Indians  had 
been  deceived ;  that  they  were  in  a  state  of  intoxication  at  the 
time  they  signed  away  their  lands,  and  that,  even  under  these 
circumstances,  only  a  part  of  the  tribes  had  given  their  consent. 
The  dissatisfaction  existing  among  them  was  artfully  fomented  by 

himself  and  taught  his  family  all  the  virtues  of  the  New  England 
calendar. 

Having  fitted  himself  for  college  with  such  aid  as  his  father  could  give 
him,  James  F.  Joy  entered  Dartmouth,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  1838, 
having  the  rank  of  the  first  scholar  of  his  class  and  winning  the  valedic 
tory  assigned  to  him  as  such.  From  Dartmouth  College,  with  all  its  hoty 
and  inspiring  associations  and  memories  as  the  school  of  Webster  and 
Choate,  and  such  men,  and  as  the  subject  of  Webster's  grand  constitu 
tional  argument  and  most  eloquent  appeal  to  the  supreme  court,  Joy  went 
to -Cambridge,  where,  during  the  years  1833  and  1834,  he  had  the  benefit 
of  the  teaching  and  example,  and  was  cheered,  encouraged  and  stimulated 
by  the  friendship  of  Story  and  Greenleaf,  and  where  he  laid  broad  and 
deep  the  foundations  for  that  great  structure  he  has  since  reared  thereon. 
Being  poor,  however,  he  was  compelled  to  leave  the  law  school  and 
enter  the  academy  at  Pittsfield  as  its  preceptor,  and  while  there  he  was 
employed  as  tutor  in  Dartmouth  College,  to  instruct  the  classes  in  Latin, 
which  he  did  for  a  year,  and  then  returned  to  the  law  school  in  Cam- 
Abridge,  where  he  completed  his  studies  and  spent  another  year. 

Mr.  Joy  was  a  thorough  classical  scholar,  and,  during  all  the  labors  of 
the  last  thirty  years,  while  engaged  in  his  profession,  or  in  those  vast 


OF  MICHIGAN.  333 

the  agents  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  who  foresaw  that  if 
the  Americans  were  permitted  to  occupy  this  country  they  would 
be  cut  off  from  a  valuable  portion  of  their  trade ;  while  the 
English  government,  which  ceded  away  this  extensive  tract  with 
out  any  very  definite  idea  of  its  resources,  looked  with  complacency 
on  any  attempts  made  by  the  savages  to  retain  it  in  their  hands. 
The  American  pioneers  of  the  West  had,  no  doubt,  slighted  the 
rights  of  the  Indians,  and  wrongs  had  been  inflicted  which  required 
correction.  Taking  advantage  of  this,  the  traders  and  the  English 
generally  were  indefatigable  in  rousing  the  Indians  to  war.  The 
prophet  commenced  his  mission  in  1806,  and  did  all  that  supersti 
tion  could  do  to  excite  the  fury  of  the  Indians  against  the 
Americans.  The  plan  for  the  league  was  not  unlike  that  formed 
by  Pontiac.  Tecumseh's  plan  was  to  surprise  the  posts  of  Detroit, 
Fort  Wayne,  Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  Vincennes,  and  to  unite  all 
the  tribes  from  the  borders  of  New  York  to  the  Mississippi.  As 
early  as  the  year  1807,  the  Shawanese  chief  and  his  brother,  the 
prophet,  were  actively  engaged  in  sending  their  emissaries,  with 
presents  and  war-belts,  to  the  most  distant  tribes,  to  induce  them 

railroad  enterprises  which  he  has  founded  and  constructed  with  such 
eminent  ability  and  success,  has  never  neglected  to  keep  up,  as  far  as 
possible,  his  early  studies.  Although  the  railway  king  of  the  Northwest, 
he  is  more  than  this— he  is  a  ripe  scholar,  a  man  of  great  literary  attain 
ments  and  a  most  eminent  and  able  lawyer,  who,  to-day,  has  few 
superiors  in  this  country  in  all  that  vast  code  of  law  that  has  grown  up 
as  a  part  and  parcel  of  the  railway  system  of  the  United  States,  and  is  a 
thorough  master  of  constitutional  law.  Take  him  away  to-day  from  his 
avocation  as  president  of  several  long  lines  of  railway,  place  him 
at  Cambridge,  and  he  would  be  a  most  competent  and  able  lecturer 
on  the  law;  transfer  him  back  to  Dartmouth,  and  he  would  prove,  even 
now,  a  thorough,  capable  teacher  of  Latin  or  nearly  any  other  depart 
ment  of  learning. 

In  September,  1836,  he  came  to  Detroit  and  entered  the  law  office  of 
Hon.  Augustus  S.  Porter.  At  that  time,  he  was  not  worth  a  hundred 
dollars  in  the  world.  During  the  year  that  he  remained  in  the  office  with 
Mr.  Porter,  he  attracted  attention  to  his  character  for  industry,  steadiness 
of  purpose,  devotion  to  business  and  high  moral  principles;  and,  when 
admitted  in  1837,  he  at  once  entered  on  a  fine  and  large  practice. 

Soon  after  he  came  to  the  bar,  he  became  a  partner  of  George  F. 


334  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

to  join  in  the  confederacy ;  and  when  the  comet  appeared  in  1811, 
the  latter  artfully  turned  it  to  account,  by  practicing  on  the  super 
stitions  of  the  savages.  On  the'  4th  of  May,  a  special  mission, 
consisting  of  deputies  from  the  Ottawas,  was  sent  to  a  distant  post 
upon  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  and  a  grand  council  being 
there  assembled,  it  was  addressed  by  Le  Marquoit,  or  the  Trout. 
He  told  the  Indians  that  he  had  been  sent  by  the  messenger  and 
representative  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  that  he  was  commissioned 
to  deliver  to  them  a  speech  from  the  "  first  man  whom  God  had 
created,  said  to  be  in  the  Shawanese  country."  He  then  informed 
them  what  were  the  instructions  of  that  Great  Spirit  in  the  suc 
ceeding  address :  "  I  am  the  Father  of  the  English,  of  the  French, 
of  the  Spaniards,  and  of  the  Indians.  I  created  the  first  man, 
who  was  the  common  father  of  all  these  people  as  well  as  of  our 
selves,  and  it  is  through  him,  whom  I  have  awakened  from  his  long 
sleep,  that  I  now  address  you.  But  the  Americans  I  did  not 
make.  They  are  not  my  children,  but  the  children  of  the  evil 
spirit.  They  grew  from  the  scum  of  the  great  water  when  it  was 
troubled  by  the  evil  spirit,  and  the  froth  was  driven  into  the 

Porter,  a  former  banker,  and  a  man  of  much  practical  business  knowledge, 
and  to  Mr.  Joy  he  was  invaluable.  Joy  &  Porter  soon  became  the 
attorneys  and  counselors  of  the  Dwights  of  Boston,  Arthur  and  Frederick 
Bronson,  of  New  York,  and  in  1847,  when  John  W.  Brooks  came  from 
Boston  to  Michigan  to  purchase  the  then  Detroit  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad, 
he  came  consigned  to  Joy  as  the  man  to  take  the  legal  charge  of  all  the 
negotiations  and  to  act  as  counsel  for  the  new  stockholders  in  that  great 
enterprise.  Brooks  intrusted  to  Mr.  Joy  all  the  negotiations,  and  by  him 
the  purchase  was  made  from  the  State,  the  acts  drawn  and  passed,  the 
purchase  money  secured,  and  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad,  now  one  of 
the  best  in  the  world,  was  born  into  existence  with  Joy  as  the  legal 
accoucheur  at  its  birth. 

With  the  completion  of  the  new  line  to  Chicago,  he  at  once  started  to 
extend  it  to  the  Missouri  river,  and,  organizing  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  Railroad,  he  built  up  one  of  the  most  lucrative  and  best 
regulated  and  managed  roads  in  the  United  States.  Not  only  has  he  built 
this  grand  road,  but  he  has  paid  regular  dividends  and  more  than 
quadrupled  its  stock  out  of  its  earnings.  Instead  of  appropriating  these 
earnings  to  his  own  private  wealth  like  the  officers  of  many  other  similar 
corporations,  he  has  given  them  all  to  the  stockholders.  Mr.  Joy  is 


OF  MicfiiGAtf.  335 

woods  by  a  strong  east  wind.  They  are  enormous,  but  I  hate 
them.  My  children,  you  must  not  speak  of  this  talk  to  the 
whites ;  it  must  be  hidden  from  them.  I  am  now  on  the  earth, 
sent  by  the  Great  Spirit,  to  instruct  you.  Each  village  must  send 
me  two  or  more  principal  chiefs,  to  represent  you,  that  you  may 
be  taught.  The  bearer  of  this  talk  must  point  out  to  you  the 
path  to  my  wigwam.  I  could  not  come  myself  to  L'Arbre 
Croche,  because  the  world  is  changed  from  what  it  was.  It  is 
broken  and  leans  down,  and  as  it  declines  the  Chippewas  and  all 
beyond  will  fall  off  and  die ;  therefore,  you  must  come  to  see  me 
and  be  instructed.  Those  villages  which  do  not  listen  to  this  talk 
will  be  cut  off  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

It  was  through  these  means  that  the  savages  were  roused  to 
attack  the  frontier  settlements  of  the  West,  and,  later,  to  unite 
with  the  English  during  the  memorable  war  of  1812. 

In  1805,  as  shown  elsewhere,  Detroit  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and, 
on  being  rebuilt,  the  stockade  was  dispensed.  But  now  that  the 
forests  were  again  filled  with  hostile  Indians,  a  new  stockade  was 
constructed  around  the  new  town  of  Detroit  for  its  better  defense. 

president  and  a  director  of  the  Michigan  Central,  president  and  director 
of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  road,  the  Missouri  River  &  Council 
Bluffs  Railroad  and  their  different  branches,  and  is  an  officer  and  stock 
holder  in  several  others.  He  and  Mr.  Brooks  also  organized  the  company 
for  the  construction  of  the  St.  Mary's  Falls  Ship  Canal,  connecting  the 
navigation  of  Lake  Superior  with  that  of  the  lower  lakes  for  all  classes  of 
vessels — a  work  of  great  national  importance. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war,  he  has  mainly  devoted  himself  to  the  con 
struction  of  railroads,  for  the  most  part  in  this  State.  It  was  through 
his  efforts  that  the  Detroit,  Lansing  &  Lake  Michigan  Railroad  has  thus 
far  been  completed.  The  road  from  Detroit  to  Bay  City,  and  also  the 
Chicago  &  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  extending  from  New  Buffalo 
to  Pent  water,  with  branches  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  Big  Rapids,  have  also 
been  built  by  his  means  and  influence.  He  did  much  also  to  promote 
the  construction  of  the  Grand  River  Valley,  and  the  Jackson,  Lansing  & 
Saginaw  roads,  while  at  the  same  time  also  he  was  engaged  in  similar 
works  in  Kansas  and  Nebraska.  Perhaps  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that 
no  single  man  in  the  West  has  done  so  much  to  promote  and  push  for 
ward  the  public  improvements  and  contributed  so  much  to  the  develop 
ment  of  the  resources  and  wealth  of  the  great  West  as  he  has  done. 


336  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

In  September,  1809,  a  special  counciLof  the  Hurons  was  called 
near  Brownstown,  and,  at  the  instigation  of  their  principal  chief, 
Walk-in-the- Water,  they  freely  spoke  of  their  grievances  to  Gov 
ernor  Hull.  The  speech  addressed  by  this  chief  to  the  Governor, 
setting  forth  the  title  of  his  tribe  to  a  large  tract  of  territory  near 
the  Detroit  river,  which  was  claimed  by  the  United  States,  under 
the  treaty  of  Greenville,  shows  how  dissatisfied  they  were  with 
this  treaty,  and  with  the  encroachments  of  the  American  people. 
In  the  midst  of  all  these  evidences  of  war,  the  Territory  of  Michi 
gan  remained  in  a  comparatively  defenseless  state.  There  were 
at  this  time,  in  the  whole  territory,  but  nine  settlements  of  any 
importance  ;  nor  were  the  inhabitants  of  these  villages  calculated 
to  show  any  considerable  resistance  to  the  approaching  incursions 
of  the  savages.  These  settlements  were  situated  on  the  Rivers 
Miami  and  Raisin,  on  the  Huron  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  Ecorse, 
Rouge  and  Detroit  rivers,  on  the  Huron  of  St.  Clair,  the  St. 
Clair  river,  and  the  Island  of  Mackinaw.  In  addition  to  these 
there  were,  here  and  there,  a  group  of  huts  belonging  to  the 
French  fur  traders.  The  villages  upon  the  Maumee,  the  Raisin, 
and  the  Huron  of  Lake  Erie,  contained  a  population  of  about 

Mr.  Joy's  habits  of  mind  and  life  are  too  rigid  to  allow  him  to  be  a 
politician,  yet,  at  the  commencement  of  the  great  war,  he  was  induced 
to  go  to  the  legislature  of  the  State,  where  his  ability  and  influence  did 
much  to  prepare  the  State  for  the  great  contest  which  was  impending. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  committee  of  ways  and  means,  and  had  a  large 
influence  in  settling  the  financial  policy  of  the  State,  which  has  since 
relieved  it  from  all  embarrassment,  and  enabled  it  rapidly  to  extinguish 
its  funded  debt. 

What  his  fortune  is,  no  one  but  himself  can  state,  but  that  it  is  very 
large  all  must  know;  yet  all  his  habits  of  life,  his  dress,  his  home,  his 
equipage,  though  rich  and  genteel,  are  simple  and  unostentatious.  He 
neither  indulges  in  the  use  of  tobacco  or  intoxicating  liquors.  He  never 
wastes  his  time  in  the  follies  of  society,  but  devotes  it  to  the  improving 
of  his  mind,  making  the  most  of  every  hour  and  achieving  something 
for  the  future;  and  yet  he  has  neither  became  a  miser  or  a  greedy  lover 
of  money.  As  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  he  is  consistent 
and  liberal;  and  as  a  father,  he  has  watched  carefully  over  his  children, 
giving  them  all  the  benefit  of  a  thorough  education,  and  training  them  to 
lives  of  industry  and  integrity. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


337 


thirteen  hundred  ;  the  post  of  Detroit  and  the  settlements  on  the 
Rivers  Rouge  and  Ecorse,  and  on  the  Huron  of  Lake  St.  Clair,  num 
bered  about  two  thousand  two  hundred  ;  the  Island  of  Mackinaw 
about  one  thousand.  Detroit  was  garrisoned  by  ninety-four  men, 


HON.  ALBERT    MILLER. 

ALBERT  MILLER  was  born  at  Hartland,  Windsor  county,  Vermont, 
May  10,  1810. 

His  father,  Jeremy  Miller,  who  was  of  English  descent,  was  a  native  of 
Middletowu,  Connecticut;  and  his  mother  was  a  native  of  Hartland,  her 
maternal  grandfather  having  been  the  first  settler  in  that  town,  and  her 
ancestors  on  her  father's  side  were  among  those  who  landed  at  Plymouth 
Rock,  in  1620. 

Jeremy  Miller  died  in  March,  1817,  leaving  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
who  was  the  youngest  of  four  children,  to  the  care  of  a  devoted  mother, 
22 


338  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

and  Mackinaw  by  seventy-nine.  Thus,  the  entire  population  of 
the  State  was  only  about  four  thousand  eight  hundred,  four-fifths 
of  whom  were  French,  and  the  remainder  Americans. 

An  Indian  war  being  now  apparent,  a  memorial  was  presented 
to  Congress,  setting  forth  the  defenseless  condition  of  the  Terri 
tory,  and  praying  for  aid  from  that  body.  This  memorial 
was  signed  by  the  principal  inhabitants  of  Detroit,  and  sent  to 
"Washington  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  December,  1811.  Tecum- 
seh  had  collected  his  warriors,  and  was  now  ready  for  action. 
The  first  hostile  demonstration  was  in  the  shape  of  marauding 
parties,  going  from  one  settlement  to  another  and  committing 
depredations. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Kalamazoo  river,  a  smith's  forge  had 
been  erected,  where  hatchets  and  scalping-knives  were  made  by 
the  savages ;  and,  at  no  great  distance  from  this,  the  Indian 
women  were  cultivating  corn,  with  which  to  supply  the  warriors 
with  food.  All  the  plans  having  been  fully  matured,  the  contest 
at  length  began,  on  the  banks  of  the  Wabash,  at  the  Prophet's 
town.  The  Indian  warriors  from  all  quarters  came  to  join 

with  but  limited  means  ;  and  whatever  success  has  attended  him  is 
attributable  alone  to  his  own  exertions  and  the  judicious  training  received 
from  his  mother. 

Until  he  was  nine  years  of  age,  he  attended  the  district  school  in  his 
n'ative  town  the  three  summer  months  of  each  year,  and  from  that  time 
until  he  was  eighteen,  he  attended  six  months  in  the  year.  At  this  age, 
he  had  acquired  sufficient  education  to  teach  a  district  school,  and  occu 
pied  himself  at  that  work  the  two  succeeding  winters.  Determined  to 
receive  a  thorough  education,  in  1830  he  entered  the  Kimball  and  Union 
Academy,  at  Meriden,  New  Hampshire,  to  prepare  himself  for  college, 
but,  within  four  weeks  after  entering  the  academy,  he  was  prostrated  by 
a  severe  illness,  which  so  enfeebled  him  that  he  was  obliged  to  give  up 
his  long  cherished  wish  to  obtain  a  collegiate  education. 

Mr.  Miller,  upon  recovering  his  health,  decided  to  come  West,  and 
started  from  his  home  on  the  2d  of  September,  1830,  and  arrived  in 
Detroit,  Michigan,  on  the  22d  of  the  same  month.  The  people  of  that 
town  then  pointed  to  its  size  with  pride — it  contained  2,222  inhabitants. 
Being  joined  by  his  father's  family  in  the  spring  of  1831,  he  located  and 
settled  on  eighty  acres  of  land  at  Grand  Blanc,  Genesee  county.  In  1833, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  339 

Tecumseh,  and  the  English,  on  the  opposite  shores,  looked  on  with 
deep  interest  upon  what  was  passing,  regarding  the  savages  as 
important  allies  in  the  conflict  in  which  they  expected  shortly  to 
be  engaged. 

A  body  of  troops  was  collected  in  Ohio,  consisting  of  about 
twelve  hundred  men,  raised  by  order  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States ;  and  this  number  was  largely  increased  by  volun 
teers.  These  troops  were  formed  into  three  regiments,  under  the 
command  of  Colonels  McArthur,  Finelly  and  Cass ;  and  a  fourth 
regiment,  about  three  hundred  strong,  under  Colonel  Miller,  after 
wards  joined  them,  the  whole  being  under  the  command  of  Gen 
eral  Hull,  the  Governor  of  Michigan.  With  this  force,  General 
Hull  marched  from  Dayton  towards  Detroit. 

While  under  march,  near  the  River  Raisin,  on  the  third  of 
July,  1812,  General  Hull  received  dispatches  from  Washington 
City,  announcing  the  declaration  of  war  against  England.  Two 
days  after,  they  reached  the  River  Huron,  where  a  floating  bridge 
was  constructed,  so  that  the  entire  army,  with  all  the  baggage  and 
stores,  passed  over  in  safety.  On  the  fifth  of  July,  the  army  passed 

he  purchased  from  the  government  a  tract  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Saginaw  river,  at  the  junction  of  the  Shiawassee  and  Tittabawassee  rivers 
with  it,  and  settled  there  in  February  of  that  year. 

At  the  spring  election  of  that  year,  he  was  elected  to  an  office  which 
constituted  him  one  of  the  inspectors  of  election  for  his  township,  and 
during  his  residence  there  of  fifteen  years,  he  was  a  constant  member  of 
the  board  of  inspectors,  and  never '  absent  from  a  single  election.  Upon 
the  organization  of  the  county  of  Saginaw,  in  1835,  he  was  appointed 
judge  of  probate  for  the  county,  by  Stevens  T.  Mason,  then  acting  gover 
nor  of  the  territory,  which  office  he  held  for  nine  years.  He  was  also  a 
justice  of  the  peace  for  the  township  of  Saginaw  for  thirteen  successive 
years.  In  1847,  he  represented  the  county  of  Saginaw  in  the  State  legis 
lature.  At  this  session,  the  capitol  was  removed  from  Detroit  to  Lansing. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  of  arrangements  at  the  laying  of  the  corner 
stone  of  the  new  State  capitol. 

Judge  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Daglish,  of  Detroit, 
February  6,  1838.  Of  this  marriage,  there  has  been  six  children,  only 
one  of  whom  is  still  living. 

In  December,  1838,  Judge  Miller  and  wife  both  united  with  the  Presby- 


340  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  Indian  council  ground  at  Brownstown,  crossed  the  River 
Rouge,  and  encamped  at  Springwells,  about  three  miles  below 
Detroit.  The  Fourth  Regiment  marched  to  the  fort,  and  occupied 
it,  on  the  following  day.  The  volunteers  took  up  their  position 
near  the  fort,  and  a  movement  was  made  to  procure  a  large  num 
ber  of  boats,  for  the  purpose  of  transporting  the  army  into 
Canada.  Orders  were  accordingly  issued  for  the  army  to  be  in 
readiness  to  cross  the  river  early  on  the  following  morning ;  and, 
at  this  time,  the  army  moved  up  the  river  to  a  point  opposite  the 
lower  end  of  Hog  Island.  It  was  now  daylight,  of  a  delightfully 
bright  summer  morning.  The  whole  line  entered  the  boats, 
which  had  on  the  previous  evening  been  taken  from  opposite  the 
fort,  at  a  point  near  Sandwich,  in  order  to  mislead  the  enemy  as 
to  the  place  selected  for  their  advance.  The  army  was  not 
attacked  on  landing  in  Canada,  as  they  expected,  and  marched 
down  the  road  along  the  bank  of  the  river,  to  a  point  opposite  the 
town,  presenting  a  fine  appearance  from  the  opposite  shore.  The 
inhabitants,  nearly  all  Canadian  French,  welcomed  the  troops  as 
friends,  and  white  handkerchiefs  and  flags  waved  from  every 

terian  church,  and  to-day  they  are  still  members  of  this  denomination. 
He  has  materially  aided  the  churches  of  the  Saginaw  valley  from  their 
infancy,  and  has  twice  represented  the  Presbytery  of  Saginaw  in  the 
general  assembly — at  Philadelphia,  in  1863,  and  in  1870. 

Judge  Miller  is  now  residing  at  Bay  City,  where  he 'caused  the  town  of 
Portsmouth  to  be  laid  out  in  1836,  and  near  where  he  built  the  second 
saw  mill  that  was  put  in  operation  on  the  Saginaw  river.  He  has  resided 
here  since  1848. 

Judge  Miller  has  always  sustained  the  highest  reputation  for  integrity, 
and,  as  a  consequence,  has  enjoyed  the  fullest  confidence  of  the  com 
munities  in  which  he  has  lived.  He  is  gentle  and  affable  in  his  manner 
to  all  classes;  he  has  ever  been  in  fellowship  with  the  good,  and  full  of 
sympathy  for  the  poor. 

Though  he  has  borne  the  burden  and  seen  all  the  vicissitudes  of  pioneer 
life,  he  has  not  been  demoralized  by  its  vices  nor  prematurely  aged  by  its 
hardships.  He  is  enjoying  in  competence  a  contented  retirement.  He 
witnesses  with  fatherly  interest  the  varied  activities  that  distinguish  the 
Saginaw  valley,  without  permitting  the  serenity  of  his  old  age  to  be  dis 
turbed  by  an  unseemly  greed  and  scramble  for  more  wealth. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  341 

house,  and  many  greeted  the  army  with  shouts  of,  "  We  like  the 
Americans !"  A  vacant,  unfinished,  two-story  brick  house,  belong 
ing  to  Colonel  Baby,  with  extensive  grounds,  became  the  head 
quarters  and  intrenched  camp  of  the  northwestern  army  in 


A.  W.  WRIGHT. 

AMMI  WILLARD  WKIGHT,  of  Saginaw  City,  was  born  at  Graf  ton,  Ver 
mont,  July  5,  1822. 

He  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1850,  remaining  in  Detroit  for  over  a 
year.  From  here  he  removed  to  Portsmouth,  now  a  part  of  Bay  City, 
where  he  settled  in  November,  1851,  making  that  his  home  until  1852. 

During  the  winter  of  1852,  he  commenced  his  lumbering  operations, 
and  has  continued  to  deal  heavily  in  this  commodity  ever  since.  In  1859, 
he  entered  the  lumber  manufacturing  firm  of  Miller,  Paine  &  Wright, 


342  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Canada.  The  roof  of  the  house  was  shingled,  the  floors  laid,  and 
the  windows  in ;  otherwise,  it  was  entirely  unfinished.  A  parti 
tion  of  rough  boards  was  put  up  on  each  side  of  the  hall,  which 
ran  entirely  through  the  building.  General  Hull,  with  his  aids, 
occupied  the  north  half  of  the  house ;  General  James  Taylor, 
Quartermaster-General  of  the  army,  with  his  two  assistants,  occu 
pied  the  south  side.  The  councils  of  war  were  held  in  the 
second  story,  over  the  room  occupied  by  the  Commanding  Gen 
eral,  access  to  which  was  had  by  a  rough  stairway.  General 
Hull,  and  his  son,  Captain  Hull,  lodged,  most  of  the  time,  at 
headquarters ;  General  Taylor,  being  unwell,  lodged  in  Detroit. 

While  at  these  headquarters,  General  Hull  issued  a  lengthy 
proclamation  to  the  people  of  Canada.  In  this  document  he 
promised  protection  to  life  and  property,  if  the  inhabitants  main 
tained  a  strict  neutrality ;  but  that,  if  the  barbarous  policy  of 
Great  Britain,  in  letting  loose  the  Indians  to  murder  American 
citizens,  was  pursued,  the  war  would  become  a  war  of  extermina- 

and  after  doing  business  for  a  number  of  years,  this  firm  was  dissolved. 
Mr.  Wright  went  into  a  co-partnership  with  J.  H.  Pearson,  Esq.,  of 
Chicago,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  under  the  firm  name  of  A.  W.  Wright  & 
Co.  In  June  following  the  formation  of  this  firm,  their  mill  burned 
clown,  and  they  immediately  rebuilt  it  on  the  old  site  on  a  much  larger 
scale,  and  with  many  improvements.  Afterwards,  they  erected  another 
large  mill,  farther  down  the  river,  and  carried  on  a  very  extensive  lumber 
manufacturing  business  until  they  sold  out  their  mill  property.  This 
firm  still  exists,  but  they  are  no  longer  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
lumber. 

Mr.  Wright  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  sterling  business  men  of 
the  Saginaw  valley,  and  though  shrinking  from  notoriety,  has  been  a 
leading  spirit  in  many  public  enterprises.  He  was  president  of  the 
Saginaw  &  St.  Louis  Plank  Road  Company;  is  treasurer,  director  and  a 
heavy  stockholder  in  the  Saginaw  Valley  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company; 
is  a  director  in  the  Saginaw  &  St.  Clair  Railroad;  is  vice-president  and 
director  of  the  First  National  Bank;  president  and  superintendent  of  the 
Tittabawassee  Boom  Company,  and  holds  many  other  important  business 
positions. 

In  manner,  Mr.  Wright  is  pleasant  and  social,  of  a  kind  disposition, 
and  possessed  of  a  generous  nature.  He  is  benevolent  to  his  employes 
and  ever  enjoys  their  hearty  good  will. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  343 

tion.  He  warned  them  that  no  white  man  caught  fighting  by  the 
side  of  an  Indian  would  be  taken  prisoner,  but  would  instantly 
be  put  to  death  ;  and  closed  with  the  hope  that  the  Divine  Ruler 
would  guide  them  in  their  choice  to  a  result  most  compatible  with 
their  rights,  interests  and  happiness.  This  address  is  said  to  have 
been  written  by  Governor  (then  Colonel)  Cass. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


MlCHILIMACKINAC — REMOVAL  OF  THE  FORT  TO  MACKINAW  ISLAND — 
CONDITION  OF  THE  FORT  AND  SETTLEMENT  IN  1812 — CAPTAIN 
ROBERTS'  EXPEDITION  CAPTURES  THE  FORT — THE  GARRISON  SENT 
TO  DETROIT — THE  ENGLISH  ONCE  MORE  IN  POSSESSION  OF  MACKI 
NAW. 

LEAVING  Hull  and  his  army  at  Sandwich,  in  Canada,  we  will 
now  return  to  long-forgotten  Michilimackinac.  We  have  seen 
how,  about  one  year  after  the  massacre,  the  British  again  sent 
troops,  under  Captain  Howard,  to  garrison  the  fort.  After  this, 
the  next  event  that  attracts  our  notice  was  the  removal  of  the 
fort.  In  1779,  a  party  of  British  officers  from  the  post  of  Michili 
mackinac  visited  the  Island  of  Mackinaw,  which  lies  in  the 
straits  separating  the  two  peninsulas  of  Michigan,  for  the  purpose 
of  selecting  a  suitable  site  for  the  fort.  This  done,  they  gained 
permission  from  the  Indians  to  occupy  it,  and  the  fort  was 
removed  to  the  Island  in  the  summer  of  1780,  the  troops  tak 
ing  possession  July  fifteenth.  The  removal  of  the  inhabitants 
from  the  mainland  was  gradual,  and  the  fort,  which  was  built 
on  the  site  of  the  present  one,  was  not  completed  until  1783. 

In  1795,  when  the  British  gave  up  Fort  Mackinaw  to  the 
Americans,  they  repaired  to  the  Island  of  St.  Joseph,  which  is 
situated  in  the  St.  Mary's  river,  about  twenty  miles  above 
Detour,  and  there  constructed  a  fort.  At  the  commencement 
of  the  war  of  1812,  the  fort  was  garrisoned  by  a  small  detach 
ment  of  British  regulars,  under  command  of  Captain  Roberts. 
At  this  time,  the  garrison  of  Fort  Mackinaw  consisted  of  only 
fifty-seven  effective  men,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant 
Hanks.  The  walls,  which  had  been  built  by  the  English  in  1780, 
and  which  are  still  standing,  were  surmounted  by  a  palisade  of 
cedar  pickets,  about  ten  feet  high,  intended  as  a  defense  against 
the  Indians.  To  make  it  impossible  to  scale  this  palisade,  each 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


345 


picket  was  protected  at  the  top  by  sharp  iron  prongs.  Through 
it  were  numerous  port-holes,  through  which  a  leaden  shower  of 
death  might  be  poured  upon  any  foe  that  should  come  near. 
Two  or  three  guns,  of  small  calibre,  were  planted  at  convenient 


HON.  L.  B.  PARKER. 

L.  B.  PARKER,  a  prominent  citizen  and  a  leading  physician  of  St. 
Glair  county,  was  bora  at  Moores,  Clinton  county,  N.  Y.,  July  19,  1818. 

His  father  was  a  man  of  limited  means,  and  unable  to  give  his  children 
such  assistance  as  was  essential  to  secure  them  a  liberal  education,  but  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  being  well  supplied  with  the  "never  give  up " 
principle,  found  means  to  give  himself  the  instruction  requisite  in  the 
important  positions  he  was  destined  to  fill. 

In  1824,  his  father  moved  to  Fairfax,  Vermont,  and  here  he  attended 
the  common  school  for  some  time  and  until  a  high  school  was  opened  at 


346  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

places  upon  the  walls,  and  one  small  piece  in  each  of  the  three 
block  houses,  which  are  yet  standing.  The  town,  at  the  time,  was 
small.  Except  the  old  distillery,  which  stood  upon  the  beach, 
some  little  distance  from  the  present  western  limits  of  Shanty- 
town,  no  building  had  been  erected  west  of  the  house  recently 
occupied  by  Mr.  A.  Davenport,  and  none  east  of  the  fort  garden, 
except  one  small  shanty,  which  stood  near  the  present  site  of  the 
old  mission  church.  With  one  exception,  the  houses  were  all  one- 
story  buildings,  built  of  cedar,  and  roofed  with  cedar  bark.  The 
several  traders  then  on  the  Island  had  each  a  store,  and  there 
was  one  dock,  so  called,  which  consisted  of  two  cribs,  filled  with 
stone,  and  connected  with  each  other  and  with  the  beach  by  ten 
logs,  placed  side  by  side. 

When  war  was  declared,  there  was  an  unpardonable  negligence 
on  the  part  of  the  War  Department,  in  not  furnishing  the  west 
ern  frontier  with  information  of  that  important  event.  Owing 
to  this  negligence,  the  English  opposite  Detroit  were  in  posses 
sion  of  the  news  before  it  reached  the  American  side,  and  the 
English  commander,  taking  advantage  of  that  fact,  hastened  to 

Fairfax  Centre,  three  miles  distant,  by  Professor  Hartwell  Farrar.  He 
attended  this  high  school  two  terms.  Leaving  home  at  fifteen  years  of 
age,  he,  from  that  time,  received  no  assistance,  save  from  friends  whom 
he  had  won  by  his  manly  exertions  in  his  own  behalf.  Teaching  school 
winters,  he  thus  secured  the  means  to  attend  the  academy  at  St.  Albans, 
during  the  summer  seasons. 

Mr.  Parker  commenced  his  medical  studies  with  Drs.  Hall  and  Ballou, 
of  St.  Albans,  in  1839,  and  graduated  at  Castleton  College,  Castleton, 
Vermont,  in  June,  1842.  He  immediately  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Cambridge,  in  the  same  State,  where  he  remained  two 
years  and  a  half. 

Dr.  Parker  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1846,  and  settled  in  Newport  (now 
Marine  City),  St.  Clair  county,  where  he  still  resides.  Here  he  soon  built 
up  a  large  and  lucrative  business,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  leading  and 
most  successful  physicians  in  that  county. 

He  married  Miss  Jane  Sparrow,  of  Algonac,  July  6,  1852.  Of  this 
marriage,  there  has  been  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living- 
four  boys  and  two  girls. 

Dr.  Parker  has  ever  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  and,  being  educated 
a  Democrat,  he  still  advocates  the  principles  of  that  party.  Yet,  he  is  not 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  347 

transmit  the  intelligence  to  all  his  outposts,  and  take  such  steps 
as  would  best  secure  the  interests  of  the  British  Crown.  With 
almost  incredible  dispatch,  a  messenger  was  sent  to  the  Island  of 
St.  Joseph,  situated  in  St.  Mary's  river,  bearing  a  letter  to  Cap 
tain  Roberts,  containing  the  information  of  the  declaration  of 
war,  and  also  the  suggestion  of  an  immediate  attack  on  Fort 
Mackinaw.  Roberts  was  but  poorly  prepared  for  an  enterprise 
of  such  moment,  yet,  entering  warmly  into  the  views  of  his 
superior  officer,  and  being  cordially  supported  by  the  agents  of 
the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  he  was  not  long  in  deciding  upon 
his  course.  The  Ottawas  and  ChippeAvas,  two  neighboring  Indian 
tribes,  soon  flocked  to  his  standard  in  large  numbers.  The  French, 
jealous  of  the  Americans,  still  further  augmented  his  strength ; 
and,  in  the  short  space  of  eight  days,  he  had  a  force,  naval  and 
military,  of  more  than  a  thousand  men  at  his  command.  On 
the  sixteenth  day  of  July,  he  embarked  for  Mackinaw. 

But  all  this  was  unsuspected  by  the  little  garrison  and  the 
inhabitants  of  Mackinaw.  The  first  intimation  which  they 
received  that  all  was  not  right  was  from  the  conduct  of  the 

a  bitter  party  man,  but  lends  Ms  influence  and  aid  to  the  support  of 
whatever  is  patriotic  and  tends  to  produce  harmony  and  advance  the 
condition  of  the  State  and  Union.  During  the  rebellion,  he  was  known 
as  a  war  Democrat,  and  did  much  to  assist  the  government  in  its  efforts 
to  sustain  the  Union.  In  1848,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  as 
their  candidate  for  representative  in  the  State  legislature  from  the  first 
district  of  St.  Clair  county,  but,  that  party  being  in  the  minority,  he  was 
not  elected.  He  served  as  vice-president  of  the  St.  Clair  county  agricul 
tural  society  one  year,  and,  in  1860,  was  elected  to  the  State  senate  from 
St.  Clair  county  and  served  in  that  body  during  the  sessions  of  1861-62. 
He  has  also  held  a  number  of  important  offices  in  the  village  in  which  he 
resides,  and  has  taken  a  great  interest  in  educational  matters,  being  one 
of  the  union  school  trustees  and  president  of  the  board  of  education  for 
a  number  of  years. 

Dr.  Parker  is  a  man  of  strong  determination,  and  performs  his  duties 
without  fear  or  favor.  He  is  universally  honest  and  upright  in  all  his 
dealings  with  his  fellow  men,  and  by  his  strict  integrity  and  constant 
application  to  his  profession,  has  secured  an  ample  fortune,  being  now 
engaged  in  lumbering,  and  is  also  the  owner  of  some  valuable  vessel 
property. 


348  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

Indians.  In  obedience  to  the  summons  of  Captain  Roberts,  they 
were  going  toward  the  Sault  in  large  numbers.  This  caused 
some  uneasiness,  and  Lieutenant  Hanks,  with  the  citizens  of  the 
place,  made  every  effort  to  learn  from  them  the  object  of  their 
journey.  Several  councils  were  called,  but  in  vain.  Seegeenoe, 
chief  of  the  Ottawas,  was  questioned  closely,  but  not  a  word  could 
be  elicited  from  him  which  in  any  way  explained  their  conduct. 

Failing  to  get  any  satisfaction  from  the  Indians,  they  next 
called  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizens,  where  it  was  resolved  to 
make  yet  another  effort  to  unravel  the  mystery.  One  Mr.  Dous- 
man,  an  American  fur  trader,  had,  some  time  before,  sent  two  of 
his  agents  into  the  Lake  Superior  region,  to  trade  with  the 
Indians  for  furs.  He  had  heard  of  their  return  to  the  Sault, 
but  knew  of  no  reason  why  they  had  not  returned  to  his  head 
quarters  at  Mackinaw.  He,  therefore,  on  the  sixteenth  of  July, 
under  the  pretense  of  ascertaining  the  reason  of  their  delay,  but 
really  to  learn  what  it  was  that  called  so  many  of  the  Indians 
in  that  direction,  set  out  for  the  Sault.  He  had  not  gone  far 
before  he  learned  the  whole  truth  ;  for,  meeting  Captain  Roberts' 
expedition,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  barely  escaping  with  his  life. 
In  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  when  the  expedition  was  near- 
ing  the  Island,  it  was  proposed  by  Captain  Roberts  to  send  one 
Oliver,  a  British  trader,  to  the  people  of  the  town,  to  inform  them 
of  his  approach,  and  conduct  them  to  a  place  of  safety.  Mr. 
Dousman  now  urged  upon  Captain  Roberts  that  the  people 
would,  perhaps,  be  slow  to  believe  such  a  report  from  a  stranger ; 
and,  anxious  for  the  safety  of  his  friends,  asked  leave  to  return  on 
that  mission  himself.  This  he  was  permitted  to  do,  having  first 
taken  oath  that  he  would  not  give  information  of  their  approach 
to  the  garrison.  He  returned  to  the  harbor,  in  front  of  the  town, 
and,  an  hour  before  day,  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr.  A.  R.  Daven 
port,  and  rapped  loudly  at  the  door.  Mr.  Davenport,  on  learning 
who  was  at  the  door,  rose  hastily,  and  went  out,  where  he  learned 
from  his  friend  that  war  had  been  declared,  and  that  the  British 
had  come  to  take  the  fort,  being  already  upon  the  island.  The 
news  spread  rapidly  from  one  settler  to  another,  yet  the  fort 
remained  in  ignorance  of  danger,  for  none  dare  betray  the  secret. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


349 


Word  was  circulated  that  if  the  citizens  took  refuge  in  the  dis 
tillery,  they  would  be  safe.  Like  wild-fire,  the  message  went  from 
mouth  to  mouth,  until  every  man,  woman  and  child  were  on  their 
way  to  the  place  of  promised  safety. 


HON.   G.   D.  WILLIAMS. 

GARDNER  D.  WILLIAMS,  late  of  the  city  of  Saginaw,  was  a  descendant 
of  a  Welsh  family.  His  ancestor,  Robert  Williams,  settled  in  Roxbury, 
Massachusetts,  in  1638,  only  eighteen  years  after  the  arrival  of  the 
Mayflower. 

The  branch  of  the  family  from  which  Judge  Williams  descended 
remained  in  Roxbury  for  five  generations.  His  father,  Oliver  Williams, 
removed  to  Concord,  Massachusetts,  about  the  year  1794,  where  the  sub 
ject  of  this  sketch  was  born,  September  7,  1804. 


350  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Meanwhile,  Captain  Roberts  proceeded  to  the  northwest  side  of 
the  Island,  landed  his  forces,  and  began  his  march  toward  the 
fort.  At  the  farm  near  the  landing  they  took  possession  of  a 
number  of  cattle,  and,  before  the  dawn  of  day,  reached  the  hol 
low  which  may  be  seen  a  short  distance  to  the  rear  of  the  fort. 
Upon  a  little  ridge,  which  separates  this  hollow  from  the  parade 
ground,  they  planted  a  gun  in  the  road,  and  anxiously  awaited  the 
approach  of  day.  The  dawn  appeared,  and  the  unsuspecting  gar 
rison  began  to  move.  As  Lieutenant  Hanks  looked  out  from  his 
quarters,  he  was  surprised  at  the  unusual  quiet  that  prevailed  in 
the  town  below.  No  smoke  was  seen  curling  from  the  chimney- 
tops,  and  no  footsteps  were  heard  in  the  streets.  This  looked 
strange,  and  he  ordered  Lieutenant  Darrow,  with  two  men,  to  go 
down  and  ascertain  the  reason. 

When  this  officer  arrived  at  the  distillery,  the  truth  flashed 
upon  him.  Under  a  strong  guard  which  had  been  sent  by  Cap 
tain  Roberts,  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  were  awaiting  the  deci 
sion  that  would  again  make  them  subjects  of  the  British  Crown. 
Darrow  entered  the  distillery,  and  shook  hands  with  its  inmates  ; 

Oliver  Williams  came  to  Detroit  in  1807,  leaving  his  family  in  Concord. 
He  engaged  in  business  there  as  a  merchant,  and  was  one  of  the  largest 
dealers  in  Detroit.  He  brought  from  Boston  at  one  time,  for  his  trade, 
$64,000  in  goods.  About  the  year  1811,  he  built  the  sloop  "Friend's 
Good  Will,"  on  board  of  which  he  visited  Mackinaw  in  1812.  At  that 
place,  his  vessel  was  chartered  by  the  government  to  go  to  Chicago  for 
furs.  He  proceeded  to  that  place  under  the  charter,  and  took  on  board 
ninety-nine  packs  of  furs  belonging  to  the  government,  besides  a  quantity 
of  his  own.  On  his  return  voyage,  his  vessel  was  captured  by  the 
British  at  Mackinaw,  that  post  having  capitulated  in  his  absence.  The 
capture  was  effected  by  a  ruse  of  the  enemy.  On  approaching  the 
fortress,  Mr.  Williams  saw  the  American  flag  flying,  and  a  sentry  in 
American  uniform  on  guard,  and  had  no  suspicion  that  the  post  had 
changed  hands.  He  was  undeceived  only  when  too  late  to  escape.  He 
lost  his  vessel  and  cargo;  and  it  is  little  to  the  credit  of  the  government 
that  it  never  made  up  to  him  the  loss.  The  British  changed  the  name  of 
the  vessel  to  the  "The  Little  Belt."  It  was  one  of  the  vessels  captured 
by  Commodore  Perry,  in  the  battle  of  Lake  Erie. 

The  family  of  Oliver  Williams,  including  Gardner  D.,  arrived  at  Detroit 
November  5,  1815,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1819.  At  that 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  351 

but,  when  he  started  to  return  to  the  fort,  the  guards  proposed  to 
make  him  prisoner.  Taking  a  pistol  in  each  hand,  and  demand 
ing  permission  to  return,  he  faced  the  guards,  and,  followed  by 
his  men,  walked  backwards  till  beyond  their  reach,  when  he 
returned,  without  molestation,  to  the  fort.  But  Lieutenant  Hanks 
did  not  have  to  wait  for  the  return  of  Darrow,  to  learn  the  state 
of  affairs  below,  for  the  sharp  report  of  a  British  gun  soon  told 
him  all.  The  report  had  scarcely  died  away,  when  a  British 
officer,  with  flag  in  hand,  appeared  and  demanded  a  surrender, 
emphasizing  the  demand  by  a  statement  of  the  overwhelming 
numbers  of  the  invading  army,  and  a  threat  of  indiscriminate 
slaughter  by  the  savages  at  the  first  motion  towards  resistance. 

When  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  had  been  gathered  under 
guard  at  the  distillery,  Messrs.  Davenport,  Abbot,  Bostwick, 
Stone  and  Dousinau,  who  were  among  the  leading  citizens,  were 
advised  to  go  at  once  to  the  landing,  and  give  themselves  up  to 
Colonel  Dickinson,  who  had  been  left  at  that  point  by  Captain 
Roberts,  for  that  purpose.  This  they  accordingly  did.  They 
were  then  urged  by  Colonel  Dickinson  to  petition  Lieutenant 

time,  they  removed  to  Silver  Lake,  in  Oakland  county,  being  among  the 
first  to  settle  in  that  now  populous  and  thriving  county. 

In  1827,  Judge  Williams,  accompanying  his  brother  Ephraim  L.,  went 
to  Saginaw  and  engaged,  for  the  American  Fur  Company,  in  the  fur 
trade.  Here  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  December  10, 1858. 

During  his  eventful  life,  he  held  several  important  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  first  convention  to  form  a  constitution  for  the  State  of 
Michigan.  He  was  successively  a  member  of  each  branch  of  the  State 
legislature,  commissioner  of  internal  improvements,  county  judge,  and 
treasurer  of  Saginaw  county.  He  was  the  first  mayor  of  the  city  of 
Saginaw,  and  held  that  office  at  the  time  of  his  decease. 

He  was  no  ordinary  man.  Though  deprived  of  opportunities  in  youth 
for  education,  yet  by  native  force  of  character  he  was  equal  to  the 
requirements  of  all  the  positions  he  was  called  to  occupy.  He  had  broad 
views  of  public  affairs,  and  enjoyed  the  full  confidence  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  He  was  eminently  honest,  kind  and  genial.  He  was  married 
in  1829,  and  left  three  sons  surviving  him,  who,  continuing  the  lumber 
ing  business  established  by  the  father,  and  in  which  he  was  a  pioneer; 
have  amassed  liberal  fortunes.  They  are  respected  socially,  and  classed 
among  the  best  citizens  of  the  Saginaw  valley. 


352  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Hauks  to  surrender  the  fort  at  once,  stating  that  the  Indians 
would  be  entirely  unmanageable  in  case  there  should  be  any 
resistance.  This  they  did  promptly.  Lieutenant  Hanks'  position 
can  now  be  easily  imagined.  Not  having  received  intelligence 
of  the  declaration  of  war,  he  was  wholly  off  his  guard,  and  unpre 
pared  to  defend  himself.  The  British  troops,  though  less  in  num 
bers  than  the  garrison  under  his  command,  had  a  position  which 
commanded  the  fort,  and  were  supported  by  nearly  a  thousand 
Indian  warriors,  who  had  been  instructed  to  show  no  mercy,  in 
case  that  any  resistance  was  made.  Under  these  circumstances, 
Lieutenant  Hanks  surrendered  the  fort  at  once,  and  his  men  were 
paroled  and  sent  to  Detroit. 

Some  have  censured  Lieutenant  Hanks  for  his  precipitate  sur 
render  ;  but,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  first  act  of  resistance 
would  have  been  the  signal  for  an  indiscriminate  massacre  of  the 
garrison,  the  justice  of  such  censures  may  well  be  questioned. 

After  the  surrender,  the  citizens  were  assembled  at  the  Govern 
ment  House,  and  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  British  Crown 
administered  to  them.  They  were  generally  willing  to  take  the 
oath,  but  Messrs.  Davenport,  Bostwick,  Stone,  Abbot  and  Dous- 
maii  refused  to  turn  traitors.  These  men  were  immediately  sent 
away  with  the  soldiers,  and  were  not  permitted  to  return  till  after 
the  declaration  of  peace.  Captain  Roberts  and  his  men  were 
highly  complimented  by  the  British  government,  and  richly 
rewarded,  for  thus  surprising  and  capturing  the  fort.  Prize 
money,  to  the  amount  of  ten  thousand  dollars,  was  distributed 
among  the  volunteers  and  soldiers,  and  merchandise  and  arms 
given  to  the  Indians. 

Having  thus  easily  and  cheaply  succeeded  in  wresting  from  the 
American  people  one  of  their  most  important  military  positions, 
the  English  at  once  set  about  strengthening  themselves  in  their 
new  possession.  Fearing  that  they  would  not  be  able  to  hold 
what  they  had  so  easily  gained,  they  hastened  to  construct  a  forti 
fication  on  the  crowning  point  of  the  island,  which,  in  honor  of 
their  reigning  sovereign,  they  called  Fort  George.  The  remains 
of  the  old  fort,  afterwards  called  Fort  Holmes,  may  still  be  seen. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


GENERAL  HULL'S  COWARDICE  —  HE  EVACUATES  CANADA  —  ALLEGED 
TREASON  —  A  DETACHMENT  SENT  TO  MEET  COLONEL  BRUSH — THE 
FORT  SURRENDERED  TO  THE  BRITISH — INDIGNATION  OF  THE  ARMY 
— COLONEL  BRUSH  ESCAPES — DETROIT  AGAIN  UNDER  THE  BRITISH 
FLAG. 

WE  WILL  now  return  to  General  Hull's  army,  at  Sandwich, 
Canada.  Here  the  troops  quartered  for  four  weeks,  during  which 
time  a  detachment,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  McArthur, 
marched  up  the  Thames  river,  and  returned  with  large  supplies 
of  flour,  wheat,  beef,  cattle,  and  about  a  thousand  sheep.  The 
latter  were  all  sent  over  the  river,  and  were  permitted  to  range  at 
large  upon  the  extensive  common  back  of  the  fort,  where  they 
remained  until  after  the  surrender  of  the  army,  when  they  were 
killed  by  Indians,  and  the  meat  appropriated  to  their  use.  A 
reconnoissance  in  force,  under  Colonels  McArthur  and  Cass, 
marched  to  the  vicinity  of  Maiden,  where  they  dislodged  a  picket- 
guard,  posted  at  the  bridge  over  the  Canard  river,  fourteen  miles 
from  camp,  and  four  miles  above  Maiden. 

Another  reconnoissance,  by  the  Light  Infantry  and  a  small 
detachment  of  the  Fourth  U.  S.  Regiment,  commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Snelling,  was  made  about  the  twentieth  of  July,  by  which  it 
was  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  withdrawn  his  outpost  at  the 
Canard  bridge,  and  had  stationed  a  vessel,  named  the  Queen  Char 
lotte,  off  and  near  the  mouth  of  the  Canard  river,  in  a  position 
of  observation.  A  plan  was  formed  by  these  officers  and  others 
to  construct  some  floating  batteries,  place  a  twenty-four  pound  gun 
upon  each,  and,  with  the  addition  of  a  few  gunners  and  sailors 
then  in  Detroit,  to  descend  along  the  shore  of  the  river  on  the 
first  dark  night,  and  capture  the  Queen  Charlotte.  This  project 
met  with  a  refusal  at  headquarters,  and  all  that  could  be  obtained 
23 


354  GENERAL   aiSfORY   OF   THE  STAfES. 


was  a  permission  to  make  a  further  reconnoissance,  and  ascertain 
the  exact  position  of  the  vessel.  In  making  this  reconnoissance, 
it  was  intended,  if  possible,  to  carry  her  by  boarding,  but  the 
attempt,  for  the  want  of  the  batteries  and  sailors,  and  owing  to 
the  night  brightening  after  twelve  o'clock,  did  not  succeed. 

At  this  time,  the  British  had  posted  a  small  Indian  force  on 
the  line  of  communication  between  Detroit  and  Ohio,  and  had 
captured  a  bearer  of  dispatches  from  headquarters,  as  well  as 
private  correspondence,  which  of  course  were  taken  to  Maiden. 
General  Hull,  therefore,  ordered  Major  Vanhorne,  of  the  Second 
Regiment  of  Volunteers,  with  two  companies  of  infantry,  a  part 
of  a  company  of  volunteer  cavalry,  together  with  a  part  of  a  rifle 
company,  to  escort  the  mail  and  dispatches,  as  well  as  a  few  gen 
tlemen,  belonging  to  the  commissary  department,  returning  to 
Ohio.  He  proceeded  down  the  same  road  the  army  had  marched 
up  on  its  approach  to  Detroit,  and,  on  reaching  a  point  nearly 
opposite  Maiden,  about  the  center  of  Grosse  Isle,  was  attacked, 
and,  after  the  loss  of  many  brave  men  and  officers,  compelled  to 
retreat  back  to  the  fort.  This,  together  with  the  reception  at 
headquarters  of  the  news  that  Fort  Mackinaw  had  been  captured 
by  Roberts,  seemed  to  have  shocked  the  commanding  general, 
and  to  have  divested  him  of  all  control  over  his  fears. 

From  the  twentieth  of  July,  the  army  was  in  hourly  expecta 
tion  of  orders  to  march  on  Maiden.  The  enemy's  weakness  was 
well  known,  and  it  is  believed  that  the  English  would  have  made 
but  a  small  resistance.  But  time  passed  on,  and  no  such  orders 
were  given.  On  the  evening  of  the  seventh  of  August,  march 
ing  orders  were  given.  At  eleven  o'clock,  tents  were  struck  and 
loaded,  and  the  wagon  train  was  moving  ;  but,  instead  of  moving 
down  the  road,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy,  it  was  driven  to  the 
landing,  and  taken  by  ferry-boats  across  the  river,  and  stationed 
on  the  common,  north  of  the  fort.  Orders  were  issued  during 
the  night  to  break  up  camp,  and  the  army  recrossed  to  Detroit. 
This  act  created  astonishment  and  indignation  among  the  soldiers, 
and  it  was  freely  whispered  that  General  Hull  had  disgraced  him 
self  and  the  army. 

This  act  of  Hull's  is  the  more  astonishing,  when  we  consider 


356  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

that  the  enemy's  force  was  known  to  him  to  be  slight,  and  hourly 
becoming  weaker.  It  had  already  been  reduced  by  desertion 
from  six  hundred  and  sixty  Canadian  militia  to  one  hundred  and 
sixty ;  from  one  hundred  Indians,  under  Tecumseh,  to  sixty,  and 
having  but  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  regulars.  It  was  also 
known  to  Hull  that  the  British  officers  had  already  sent  their 
most  valuable  effects  on  board  their  vessels  in  the  port,  prepara 
tory  to  a  precipitate  evacuation  of  the  post.  Such  were  the  forces, 
and  such  the  condition  of  the  British.  Now  let  us  see  what  was 
the  strength  of  the  American  army.  According  to  the  official 
report  of  the  Brigade  Major,  acting  as  Adjutant-General  of  the 
army,  the  forces  numbered  2,300  effective  men,  well  supplied  with 
artillery,  independent  of  the  guns  of  the  fort  and  advanced  bat 
teries.  As  we  have  already  seen,  there  was  an  abundance  of  pro 
visions,  and  nothing  was  wanting  to  secure  the  most  favorable 
action  of  the  troops.  But,  with  this  superiority  of  numbers,  with 
the  enemy  already  defeated  with  alarm,  General  Hull  ingloriously 
surrenders  Detroit  and  his  whole  army  to  a  handful  of  Eoglish  ! 

But  we  shall  see  more  particularly  how  this  was  done.  On  the 
ninth  of  August  a  strong  detachment  was  marched  down  the  road, 
with  orders  to  attack  the  enemy,  who  had  crossed  from  Maiden 
in  force,  and  taken  up  a  position  nearly  opposite  the  center  of 
Grosse  Isle,  cutting  off  the  road  of  communication  with  Ohio. 
The  detachment  reached  them  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
and  immediately  charged  upon  their  lines,  and  drove  them  three 
miles  to  their  boats,  when,  as  it  had  become  dark  and  was  rain 
ing,  the  most  of  them  escaped  to  Maiden.  In  this  action,  some 
say  that  the  forces 'were  about  equal;  but  it  is  probable  that  the 
Americans  had  the  strongest  force.  The  British  brought  into  the 
field  a  large  part  of  their  regulars,  together  with  all  the  Indian 
contingent,  the  whole  being  under  the  command  of  Major  Muir. 
The  following  day,  the  American  detachment,  after  sending  for 
ward  the  mails  and  dispatches,  returned  to  the  fort.  The  Ameri 
cans  lost  sixty-eight  men  in  the  battle  ;  the  English  loss  was 
somewhat  less.  This  action  is  known  as  the  Battle  of  Browns- 
town. 

This  fight  developed  the  fact  that   a  largely  increased  Indian 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


357 


force  had  joined  the  standard  of  Tecumseh,  who  had  circulated 
the  news  of  the  fall  of  Mackinaw  among  the  tribes,  and  sum 
moned  them  to  him  with  promises  of  plunder.  Instead  of  sixty 
men  under  his  command,  he  had  now  nearly  six  hundred ;  and, 


COL.  WM.   L.   P.   LITTLE. 

WILLIAM  L.  P.  LITTLE,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers  of  the  Saginaw 
valley,  was  born  in  Avon,  Livingston  county,  New  York,  Novem 
ber  26,  1814. 

He  was  the  second  son  of  Dr.  Charles  Little,  who  made  the  first  entry 
of  government  lands  on  the  Saginaw  river,  which  entry  comprised  a 
large  portion  of  the  territory  now  included  in  the  corporation  limits  of 
East  Saginaw. 

His  son,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  received  a  common  school  educa- 


358  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

by  the  sixteenth,  seven  hundred  warriors  had  joined  him,  who, 
as  a  body  of  savages,  were  probably  never  equaled  for  bravery. 

"  A  suspicion,  strongly  grounded  and  deeply  felt,  on  the  part 
of  the  most  active  and  intelligent  of  the  volunteers,"  says  Col.  W. 
S.  Hatch,  "  had  now  risen  to  such  a  point,  that  there  was  no 
longer  any  confidence  reposed  in  the  valor  or  patriotism  of  the 
commanding  general.  A  consultation  was  held,  and  it  was 
decided  to  get  up  a  '  Round  Robin' — a  written  document,  signed 
by  names  in  a  ring  or  circle,  so  as  not  to  show  who  signed  it  first 
— addressed  to  the  colonels  of  the  Ohio  volunteers,  requesting  the 
arrest  or  displacement  of  the  general,  and  devolving  the  command 
on  the  eldest  of  the  colonels,  McArthur."  This  was  on  the 
twelfth  of  August,  and  on  the  following  day  it  was  reported  that 
an  armistice,  or,  at  least,  a  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities,  had 
been  agreed  upon  by  the  British  authorities  and  the  American 
armies  on  the  Niagara  and  northern  frontier ;  and  that  Major- 
General  Brock,  Governor  of  Upper  Canada,  an  officer  of  high 
reputation,  had  arrived  at  Maiden,  to  conduct  operations  in  that 
quarter. 

"  The  suspicion  and  distrust  of  the  army,"  says  Colonel  Hatch, 

tion  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  in  early  life  developed  to  a  remark 
able  degree  that  indomitable  energy,  rare  financial  capacity — 

" iron  will, 

With  axe-like  edge,  unturnable," 

and  mathematical  exactness  in  matters  of  business,  which  were  his 
distinguishing  characteristics  throughout  a  long  and  ever  crowded  active 
business  life. 

Mr.  Little  settled  in  Saginaw  in  1836,  and  shortly  afterwards  was 
appointed  a  colonel  in  the  State  militia.  He  went  into  the  employ  of  the 
Saginaw  City  Improvement  Company  in  that  year  and  remained  with 
them  until  1840,  when  he  commenced  mercantile  business  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Hiram  L.  Miller. 

In  1851,  he  removed  to  East  Saginaw,  and  entered  into  partnership 
with  Jesse  Hoyt,  in  general  merchandising.  Their  establishment  being 
consumed  by  fire  on  the  5th  of  July,  1854,  they  closed  up  their  business. 

In  November,  1855,  Colonel  Little  opened  the  banking  office  of  W.  L. 
P.  Little  &  Co.,  in  the  then  village  of  East  Saginaw,  and  managed  its 
affairs  without  the  least  aid  from  a  cashier,  teller,  book-keeper,  clerk  or 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  359 

"  was  increased  by  General  Hull's  peremptory  refusal  to  allow 
that  distinguished  officer,  Captain  (afterwards  Colonel)  Snelling, 
to  cross  the  river  in  the  night,  to  carry  and  destroy  an  unfinished 
battery,  which  was  being  constructed  on  the  opposite  bank,  under 
the  direction  of  Captain  Dixon,  of  the  Royal  Artillery.  This 
was  the  only  battery  of  any  consequence  established  by  the 
enemy,  and  the  only  one  that  injured  the  Americans.  It  opened 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  fifteenth,  and  continued  its  cannonade 
during  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth,  when  one  of  its  balls  struck, 
and  instantly  killed,  Lieutenant  Hanks,  who  had  been  in  com 
mand  at  Mackinaw."  The  same  ball  passed  on  and  mortally 
wounded  Surgeon  Reynolds,  of  the  Third  Regiment  of  Volun 
teers. 

On  Thursday,  August  thirteenth,  it  was  absolutely  necessary 
that  the  greatest  vigilance  should  be  maintained,  and  that  the 
outlying  pickets  should  be  largely  increased.  At  eleven  o'clock 
of  this  evening  a  boat  was  discovered  approaching  the  fort  from 
the  Canadian  side  of  the  river,  and,  as  it  neared  the  shore,  two 
men  were  noticed  sitting  aft,  and  two  more  at  the  oars.  On  being 
challenged,  the  boat  came  up,  and  one  of  the  gentlemen  gave  the 
countersign.  "  He  was  well  known,  and  known  to  have  the  con- 
messenger,  for  one  year.  This  was  the  first  banking  house  on  the  Saginaw 
river.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  Mr.  James  F.  Brown,  the  present 
president  of  the  Merchants'  National  Bank  of  East  Saginaw,  entered  into 
the  employ  of  the  firm,  and  together  they  conducted  the  business  for 
three  years,  when  other  help  was  required,  and  Mr.  Douglass  Hoyt  was 
made  assistant  cashier.  From  this  time,  the  business  of  the  firm  rapidly 
increased,  and,  on  January  1st,  1866,  it  opened  as  the  Merchants'  National 
Bank  of  East  Saginaw,  with  Colonel  Little  as  its  president;  James  F. 
Brown,  cashier,  and  Douglass  Hoyt,  assistant  cashier.  Aside  from 
Colonel  Little's  banking  business,  he  was  largely  engaged  in  real  estate 
and  general  commercial  transactions.  He  was  also  largely  interested  in 
the  development  of  the  salt  interest,  and  was  one  of  the  heaviest  dealers 
and  manufacturers  of  lumber  in  the  Saginaw  valley.  Every  local 
improvement,  both  of  a  public  and  private  nature,  secured  his  influence 
and  aid. 

At  the  first  charter  election  of  the  city  of  East  Saginaw,  held  in  March, 
1859,  Colonel  Little  was  elected  to  the  mayoralty  by  a  handsome  major 
ity,  notwithstanding  that  the  Democratic  party,  with  which  he  always 


360  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

I 

fidence  of  the  commanding  general  more  than  any  other  officer," 
says  the  same  authority,  already  quoted,  "  and,  in  almost  every 
instance,  had  been  intrusted  with  the  duty  of  intercourse  by  flag 
with  the  enemy.  The  other  gentleman  appeared,  as  near  as  could 
be  judged  by  the  dim  light,  to  be  young,  well  formed,  and  of  mili 
tary  bearing.  They  directed  their  steps  to  the  headquarters  of  the 
commanding  general,  remaining  there  three  hours.  They  then 
returned  to  the  boat,  and  crossed  to  the  Canadian  shore.  The 
boat  came  back ;  but  one  of  the  gentlemen  only  was  with  her. 
He  gave  the  word,  and  passed  on.  At  that  time,  on  that  night, 
the  capitulation  of  the  fort  and  the  surrender  of  the  northwestern 
army  was  agreed  upon.  The  parties  to  that  agreement  were 
General  Hull,  and,  on  the  part  of  the  British,  Major  Glegg,  one 
of  the  aids-de-camp  of  General  Brock." 

Colonel  Hatch  further  substantiates  his  views  as  follows :  "  This 
is  a  historic  fact,  which  Major  Glegg,  if  alive,  will  corroborate,  as, 
after  the  war,  in  1815,  at  a  hotel  in  Philadelphia,  he  communi 
cated  his  participation  in  the  act,  as  above  stated,  to  the  late 
Quartermaster-General  of  the  northwestern  army,  General  James 
Taylor,  of  Newport,  Kentucky." 

Previous  to   this  time,  a  reinforcement  of  two    hundred  and 

acted,  was  then  in  the  minority  in  the  city.  The  duties  of  this  position 
he  discharged  with  zeal  and  fidelity. 

Under  President  Buchanan's  administration,  he  held  the  position  of 
receiver  of  the  United  States  land  office,  Moses  B.  Hess  being  the 
register,  and  it  was  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  these  gentlemen  that 
the  transfer  of  that  office  from  Flint  to  East  Saginaw  was  effected. 

Just  past  the  meridian  of  life,  in  full  possession  of  every  comfort  and 
luxury  wealth  could  bestow — the  result  of  years  of  unremitting  toil — 
surrounded  by  associates  ever  ready  to  yield  an  unquestioning  assent  to 
the  suggestions  of  his  ripe  judgment  and  experience;  happy  to  all  appear 
ance  in  the  possession  of  an  attractive  home,  an  affectionate  family  and 
a  devoted  circle  of  relatives  and  friends;  a  fearful  malady  seized  his 
over-worked  brain — filled  for  the  time  with  clouds  and  shadows — and  in 
an  instant  of  temporary  hallucination  of  mind,  that  terrible  energy  of 
character  which  had  so  often  before  seemingly  wrought  miracles  in  his 
behalf,  was  turned  to  the  horrid  work  of  self-destruction.  This  tragical 
event  occurred  on  Monday,  the  9th  of  December,  1867,  and  his  funeral 
was  conducted  by  the  Masonic  fraternity  on  the  following  Wednesday. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


361 


thirty  men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Henry  Brush,  of  Chilli- 
cothe,  Ohio,  conveying  supplies,  including  one  hundred  head  of  cat 
tle,  had  arrived  at  the  little  French  settlement  at  the  crossing  of  the 
River  Raisin,  thirty-five  miles  from  the  fort.  Here  they  halted, 


BRADFORD    SMITH. 

BRADFORD  SMITH  was  born  at  Moira,  Franklin  county,  New  York,  on 
the  15th  of  November,  1820. 

He  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  William  Bradford,  of  "Mayflower" 
memory,  who  was  for  thirty  years  Governor  of  Plymouth  Colony. 

He  is  a  graduate  of  St.  Lawrence  Academy,  and  was  connected  with 
Oberlin  College,  in  the  capacity  of  pupil  and  teacher,  for  four  years, 
receiving  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  that  institution  in  1870.  As  early  as 
1853,  he  moved  to  Detroit,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided. 


362  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

in  consequence  of  the  threatening  attitude  of  the  enemy,  and 
reported  to  the  commandiog  general,  who  issued  orders  on  the 
afternoon  of  Friday,  the  fourteenth  of  August,  for  a  detachment 
of  about  three  hundred  and  sixty  men,  under  command  of  the 
colonels  of  the  First  and  Third  Regiments  of  Ohio  Volunteers, 
to  march  at  twilight  on  the  line  of  a  circuitous  route  or  trail, 
which  passed  by  the  River  Rouge,  several  miles  above  its  mouth, 
and  continued  far  into  the  interior,  passing  the  Huron,  and 
striking  the  Raisin,  and  passing  down  that  stream  to  French- 
town.  Accompanying  the  order  was  the  information  that  Colonel 
Brush  had  been  ordered  to  move  from  his  camp  up  this  route, 
and  would  doubtless  be  met  between  the  Rouge  and  the  Huron, 
and  at  a  distance  not  exceeding  twelve  miles  from  the  fort ;  but 
the  detachment  was  to  continue  its  march  till  he  was  met. 

"  The  officers  of  the  detachment,"  says  Colonel  Hatch,  "  believ 
ing  that  they  would  meet  Colonel  Brush  and  party,  and  return 
with  it  to  Detroit  by  two  or  three  o'clock  A.  M. ;  and,  desiring 
the  troops  to  march  light  and  rapid,  directed  that  no  food  or  bag 
gage  be  taken  along,  not  even  their  blankets,  nor  would  they 
remain  for  supper.  This  order,  at  the  time,  excited  no  particular 
suspicion.  The  course  adopted  was  attributed  to  timidity,  over- 

Since  his  removal  to  Detroit,  he  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  educa 
tional  interests  of  the  city.  Fifteen  years  of  his  life  have  been  devoted  to 
teaching.  Eight  years  of  this  time,  he  was  principal  of  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Houghton  school,  and  superintendent  of  the  schools 
connected  therewith.  He  has  also  been  a  member  of  the  board  of 
managers  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  was  president 
of  that  society  for  two  years.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the  employment 
committee  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  as  such  has 
proved  a  most  useful  member  of  society.  Hundreds  of  young  men 
acknowledge  their  indebtedness  to  him  for  their  first  start  in  life.  No 
worthy  young  man  ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain  for  reasonable  aid,  or 
assistance  to  obtain  employment.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in  all  public 
improvements  of  the  city  and  State  of  his  adoption,  particularly  those 
which  tend  to  render  them  beautiful,  healthful  and  attractive.  But  his 
chief  delight  is  in  improvements  of  an  intellectual,  moral  and  religious 
character,  especially  such  as  promote  the  culture  of  the  young.  He 
believes  in  education,  sanctified  by  the  spirit  of  truth,  free  from  all  sec- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  363 

ruling  sagacious  and  prompt  military  conduct  on  the  part  of  the 
commanding  general.  But  here  all  were  deceived,  as  no  order 
had  been  sent  to  Colonel  Brush  to  move  in  the  direction  stated, 
or  to  move  at  all.  The  sole  object  of  the  movement  was  to 
reduce  the  active  force  at  the  fort,  preliminary  to  carrying  into 
effect  the  capitulation  which  had  already  been  agreed  upon,  to 
get  rid  of  a  large  number  of  officers  and  men  known  to  be  keenly 
sensitive  to  an  honorable  success,  and  had  been  openly  hostile  to 
the  inaction  of  the  army  when  in  Canada,  and  to  the  recrossing 
the  river ;  and  who,  if  present,  would  have  resisted,  to  the  extrem- 
est  point,  regardless  of  all  or  any  consequences,  any  attempt  to 
surrender  the  fort  or  the  army." 

The  detachment  left  the  fort  at  dusk,  and  entered  the  woods 
just  in  rear  of  the  common.  They  continued  their  march  until 
thirty-five  miles  from  Detroit,  when,  ascertaining  that  Colonel 
Brush  had  not  started  from  his  camp,  they  returned.  As  they 
neared  the  fort  a  brisk  cannonading  was  heard,  from  which  it  was 
supposed  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  river  below  the  town, 
and  made  an  attack  on  the  fort.  "  If  the  firing  had  continued 
until  the  detachment  had  reached  the  little  settlement  on 
the  River  Rouge,"  says  the  same  authority,  "  it  would  have 

tarian  bias.  He  is  ever  found,  as  time  will  allow,  in  the  various  schools 
of  the  city,  cheering  the  teachers  in  their  noble  vocation,  and  inspiring 
the  pupils  by  words  of  counsel  and  encouragement.  On  the  Sabbath,  he 
is  in  the  Bible  class,  "  studying,"  as  he  says,  "  the  Book."  He  is  also  one 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Mayberry  avenue  mission — now  the 
Calvary  Presbyterian  Church. 

As  a  business  man,  he  is  ever  prompt,  reliable  and  efficient,  carrying 
into  his  every  day  transactions  the  principles  of  morality  and  Christi 
anity,  which  form  the  guiding  star  of  his  existence.  His  benevolence  is 
only  bounded  by  his  ability  to  give  relief  to  the  needy  or  assistance  to 
works  of  charity.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that,  in  proportion  to  his 
means,  he  gives  in  charity  as  much  as  any  other  man  in  Detroit. 

He  never  aspired  to  political  honors,  rather  choosing  to  be  the  means 
of  doing  good,  and  assisting  others,  in  the  private  walks  of  life.  In  the 
fall  of  1873,  however,  he  was  nominated  for  mayor  of  Detroit,  on  the 
Prohibition  ticket,  but,  at  his  own  earnest  solicitation,  his  name  was 
withdrawn. 


364  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

entered  by  the  Springwells  road,  and  have  come  in  on  the  left 
flank  and  rear  of  the  enemy ;  and,  doubtless,  as  we  believed, 
would  have  captured  the  entire  of  the  British  forces,  as  they 
would  have  been  between  the  fires  of  our  volunteers  in  front 
of  the  fort,  and  ours  in  their  rear.  Entertaining  these  exhilarat 
ing  hopes,  although  without  food  for  so  long  a  time,  the  troops 
composing  this  detachment,  without  exception,  appeared  stimu 
lated  by  the  anticipated  and  hoped  for  conflict.  With  these  high 
and  cheering  expectations,  they  not  only  marched  in  double-quick 
time,  but  actually  kept  up  with  the  slow  trot  of  the  horses  for  at 
least  twenty  miles,  when  the  cannonading  ceased.  We  resumed 
this  unusual  march,  and,  without  once  halting  until  we  arrived, 
at  about  midnight,  at  the  edge  of  the  woods  which  we  had  entered 
the  night  before ;  when  to  our  utter  astonishment  and  indigna 
tion,  we  beheld  the  British  flag  floating  from  the  flag-staff  of  the 
fort,  and  the  Indians  in  the  extensive  common  before  us,  taking 
horses  and  cattle." 

The  fort  of  Detroit  and  the  northwestern  army  had  been  sur 
rendered.  The  detachment  that  we  have  just  followed  was  also 
included,  as  well  as  that  under  Colonel  Brush,  at  the  Kaisin. 
Colonel  Brush,  however,  decided  that  he  would  not  be  surren 
dered.  He  detained  the  British  flag,  sent  to  inform  him  of  the 
capitulation,  only  long  enough  to  obtain  supplies  for  his  soldiers, 
and  the  whole  force  was  then  started  for  Ohio,  which  they 
reached  in  safety. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


THE  BRITISH  CELEBRATING  THEIR  SUCCESS  AT  DETROIT — ACCOUNT  OF 
GENERAL  BROCK'S  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  DETROIT — SCENES  AND  CIR 
CUMSTANCES  IN  AND  ABOUT  DETROIT  AFTER  THE  SURRENDER — THE 

MASSACRE  AT  CHICAGO — COMMODORE  PERRY  ON  LAKE  ERIE— HAR 
RISON'S  CAMPAIGN — RECAPTURE  OF  THE  WESTERN  POSTS,  INCLUDING 
DETROIT,  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

ON  the  17th  day  of  August,  at  noon,  the  British  celebrated 
their  success  by  firing  a  salute,  General  Brock  and  his  aids  appear 
ing  in  full  dress.  They  used  on  this  occasion  one  of  the  brass 
six-pounders  belonging  to  the  fort,  which  had  been  taken  at  the 
great  revolutionary  triumph  at  Saratoga,  on  the  16th  of  October, 
1777,  which  was  recorded  on  it  in  raised  letters  of  brass.  The 
salute  was  responded  to  by  the  Queen  Charlotte,  which  came 
sweeping  up  the  centre  of  the  river,  replying  to  each  discharge. 
This  same  brass  field  piece  came  again  into  the  possession  of  the 
Americans  at  the  battle  of  the  Thames. 

Let  us  now  return  and  follow  General  Brock  through  the  short 
campaign.  He  arrived  at  or  near  Maiden  on  the  12th  of  August, 
where  he  found  everything  looking  prosperous  for  the  English 
cause.  General  Hull  had  already  broken  up  his  camp,  and 
recrossed  the  river  on  the  night  of  the  7th  and  morning  of  the 
8th.  He  also  received,  at  the  same  time,  the  additional  and  most 
gratifying  intelligence,  obtained  from  intercepted  dispatches,  that 
General  Hull  had,  at  a  council  of  war,  held  prior  to  this  date, 
spoken  of  the  probability  of  his  having  to  capitulate  at  no  dis 
tant  day. 

On  the  thirteenth  he  reconnoitered  the  position  of  his  enemy  ; 
and  receiving,  whilst  at  the  little  village  of  Sandwich,  a  flag  from 
General  Hull,  with  some  excuses  as  to  the  burning  of  a  house 
in  the  afternoon  after  his  evacuation  of  Canada,  detained  the  flag 
until  late  at  night,  and  then  dispatched  his  aid,  Major  Glegg,  with 


366  GENERAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  STATES. 

the  return  flag  to  General  Hull,  demanding  a  surrender  of  the 
fort  and  army  in  the  following  language  :  "  Sir,  the  forces  at  my 
disposal  authorize, me  to  require  of  you  the  immediate  surrender 
of  Fort  Detroit.  It  is  far  from  my  inclination  to  join  in  a  war 
of  extermination ;  but  you  must  be  aware  that  the  numerous 
body  of  Indians,  who  have  attached  themselves  to  my  troops,  will 
be  beyond  my  control  the  moment  the  contest  commences." 

On  the  fifteenth,  General  Brock  established  his  headquarters 
at  Sandwich,  and  made  his  arrangements  for  crossing  the  river. 
On  the  sixteenth,  he  crossed  the  river,  formed  in  column,  and 
marched  up  to  within  one  mile  of  the  fort,  and  halted.  His 
Indian  force,  organized  and  led  by  Tecumseh,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Elliott  and  Captain  McKee,  landed  one  mile  below, 
and  moved  up  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  west  of  the  common, 
keeping  a  mile  and  a  half  distant.  The  strength  of  his  force, 
according  to  his  report  to  Lieutenant-Gen eral  Prevost,  was  as 
follows  :  Royal  Artillery,  30  men  ;  Forty-first  Regiment,  250  ; 
Royal  Newfoundland  Regiment,  50  ;  militia,  400  ;  and  about  600 
Indians — making  a  total  force  of  1,330  men,  with  three  six- 
pounders  and  two  three-pounders. 

We  will  now  read  the  reply  of  General  Hull  to  General 
Brock's  demand  for  the  surrender  of  the  fort :  "  I  have  no 
other  reply  to  make  than  to  inform  you  that  I  am  prepared  to 
meet  any  force  which  may  be  at  your  disposal,  and  any  conse 
quences  which  may  result  from  any  exertion  of  it  you  may  think 
proper  to  make,"  etc.  This  bold  reply  contrasts  strangely  with 
his  act  of  the  following  morning,  when  he  invited  the  enemy  to 
receive  his  surrender  of  the  fort  and  army,  without  even  firing 
a  gun. 

There  is  a  mystery  surrounding  this  surrender.  If  we  say  it 
was  brought  about  through  cowardice,  how  shall  we  explain  away 
the  sending  out  of  the  detachment  to  meet  Colonel  Brush  ? 
General  Hull  is  chargeable  with  cowardice  or  treason.  The 
reader  must  judge  for  himself  between  these  two  offenses,  or  say 
that  it  was  probably  both. 

General  Brock  lost  no  time  in  returning  to  the  Niagara  fron 
tier.  Paroling  the  volunteers  not  to  serve  until  exchanged,  fur- 


HISTORY  OF  MIC&IGAK. 


36? 


nishing  them  with  boats  and  vessels  to  pass  the  lake  to  Cleveland, 
sending  General  Hull  and  the  regular  troops  to  Montreal,  and 
his  militia  to  their  homes,  issuing  his  proclamation  to  the  inhabit 
ants  of  his  conquered  territory,  and  leaving  Colonel  Proctor  in 


SPENCER  BARCLAY. 

SPENCER  BARCLAY,  one  of  the  most  extensive  business  men  in  Michi 
gan,  was  born  in  Lyons,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  on  the  22d  of  June, 
1835.  In  that  State,  he  carded  on  the  meat  packing  business  for  four 
years,  then  changing,  he  commenced  as  a  merchant,  in  which  occupation 
he  remained  seven  years. 

Mr.  Barclay  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1855,  settling  in  Grand  Rapids 
during  September  of  that  year.  He  at  once  started  in  the  mercantile 
trade,  which  he  followed  for  three  years  with  a  somewhat  varied  success. 
Afterwards,  he  removed  to  Ionia,  where  for  the  same  length  of  time  he 


368  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF   TSE  STATES. 

command,  he  went  on  board  the  Queen  Charlotte,  and  on  the 
next  day,  the  eighteenth,  sailed  down  the  lake,  stopping  at  Fort 
Erie  and  Fort  George,  arriving  in  triumph,  on  the  twenty-second, 
at  his  seat  of  goverment,  which  he  had  left  on  the  fifth. 

In  this  short  period  of  twelve  days  he  had  moved  two  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  against  his  enemy,  effected  a  surrender  of  a  strong 
fort  and  well  equipped  army  of  2,300  effective  men,  and  one  of 
the  territories  of  the  United  States. 

A  provisional  government  was  established  by  the  British  at 
Detroit,  and  a  small  force  placed  in  the  fort.  The  Indians,  who 
were  numerous,  and  claimed  large  rewards  for  their  cooperation, 
and  who  were  but  slightly,  if  at  all  restrained  by  the  garrison, 
carried  plunder  and  devastation  into  almost  every  house,  and 
through  almost  every  farm  in  the  Territory.  The  miserable 
inhabitants  had  no  alternative  but  to  submit,  or  incur  the  hazard 
of  more  aggravated  outrage.  Most  of  the  citizens  of  Detroit  were 
sent  into  exile,  and  distress  and  ruin  appeared  to  be  the  inevitable 
lot  of  all. 

Contemporaneously  with  these  events  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
peninsula  of  Michigan,  another  disaster,  rendered  memorable  by 
the  folly  which  led  to  it  and  the  blood  which  accompanied  it, 
occurred  on  the  western  side,  under  the  walls  of  Chicago.  While 
yet  in  Canada,  General  Hull,  actuated,  no  doubt,  by  the  appre 
hensions  which  made  him  regard  all  things  under  his  control  with 
trembling  anxiety,  sent  orders  to  Captain  Heald,  who  commanded 
at  Chicago,  to  evacuate  that  post,  and  retreat  to  Fort  Wayne. 
Every  order  of  this  unfortunate  general  appeared  to  be  pregnant 
with  misfortune.  That  which  was  issued  at  this  time  to  Captain 
Heald,  involved  a  garrison,  which  had  ample  means  of  defense  at 
its  post,  in  disgrace  and  blood. 

was  again  engaged  in  the  packing  business.  From  here,  he  moved  to 
East  Saginawinl862,  and  commenced  the  same  business  that  he  followed 
in  the  latter  place,  having  only  $900  as  a  capital.  However,  he  went  to 
work  with  renewed  zeal  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  and  success  has 
nobly  crowned  his  efforts,  as  he  is  now  doing  a  business  of  from  $75,000 
to  $100,000  per  year,  which  is  the  result  of  an  undivided  and  earnest 
attention  to  business,  aided  by  a  keen  penetration  and  a  sound  judgment. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  369 

The  order  for  evacuation  was  received  on  the  ninth  of  August. 
Captain  Wells,  of  the  Indian  department,  who,  with  a  few  faithful 
Miamis,  was  to  guide  the  retreat,  mistrusting  the  fidelity  of  the 
Pottawattamies,  recommended  an  immediate  evacuation,  before 


HON.  T.  J.   CAMPAU. 

THEODORE  J.  CAMPAU,  the  fifth  son  of  the  late  Joseph  Campau,  was 
born  in  Detroit. 

On  his  return  from  college  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana,  in  1846,  he  entered 
his  father's  office  and  remained  there  sixteen  years.  He  was  a  young 
man  of  energy  and  good  business  habits,  possessing  the  entire  confidence 
of  his  father.  Having  had  the  advantage  of  sixteen  years'  experience  in 
the  management  of  the  estate  during  his  father's  life-time,  it  made  him 
familiar  with  all  the  details  of  it,  every  house  being  described  in  his  rent 
books.  The  antecedents,  recommendations  and  disadvantages  of  his 
24 


370  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

that  tribe  should  have  time  to  concentrate  around  the  fort.  His 
recommendation  was  disregarded,  and,  in  a  short  time,  more  than 
four  hundred  of  them  had  collected  in  the  neighborhood.  In 
order  to  secure  their  forbearance,  a  promise  was  made  to  them 
that  all  of  the  surplus  stores  should  be  left  at  their  disposal. 
Captain  Heald  prudently  foresaw  that  large  quantities  of  whisky 
and  powder,  such  as  were  then  on  hand,  might  be  dangerous 
gifts  to  the  Indians,  and  resolved  to  destroy  clandestinely  as  much 
of  them  as  possible  before  the  evacuation.  He,  accordingly, 
during  the  nights  when  the  Indians  were  not  present,  threw  most 
of  the  powder  into  a  well,  and  wasted  a  greater  part  of  the 
whisky.  The  Indians  are  said  to  have  obtained  some  intima 
tion  or  knowledge  of  these  nocturnal  transactions ;  and,  regarding 
them  as  an  infringement  on  their1  rights,  may  have  then  conceived 
the  plan  of  vengeance  which  they  afterwards  so  fearfully  exe 
cuted.  After  the  Pottawattamies  had  assembled  in  such  num 
bers,  both  Captain  Wells  and  Mr.  Kenzie  (who  was  an  Indian 
agent  at  the  place,  and  knew  well  the  character  and  feelings 
of  these  Indians)  [represented  to  Captain  Heald  that  a  retreat 
would  then  be  unsafe.  But  their  representations  had  no  effect. 
He  had  neglected  to  make  it  at  a  time  when  no  obstacles  were 
in  the  way,  and  by  delaying,  in  order  to  destroy  the  surplus 

tenants  were  always  entered  with  a  full  description  of  the  property 
rented.  The  labor  of  doing  this  was  immense,  but  the  system  was  com 
plete  and  the  information  needed  always  on  hand.  Every  lease  granted 
by  him  and  every  receipt  taken  is  regularly  indorsed  and  alphabetically 
filed  away  for  each  year. 

He  continues  to  occupy  the  old  homestead,  140  Jefferson  avenue,  as 
his  office,  it  being  one  of  the  parcels  allotted  to  him  as  his  share  of  his 
father's  estate. 

Mr.  Canipau  has  held  many  positions  of  trust  and  honor,  being  a  mem 
ber  of  the  State  legislature  for  two  years.  He  was  appointed  to  the 
Democratic  national  convention,  held  at  Chicago  on  the  29th  of  August, 
1864,  which  nominated  General  George  B.  McClellan  for  the  presidency. 
He  once  received  and  declined  the  nomination  for  school  inspector  of  his 
ward  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  and,  in  1862,  was  twice  nominated  alderman 
of  his  ward,  but  declined  each  time.  In  1863,  he  received  the  nomina 
tion  for  mayor  of  Detroit,  and  withdrew  in  favor  of  K.  C.  Barker,  who 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  371 

whisky  and  ammunition,  had  deprived  himself  of  the  means 
of  remaining,  when  it  had  become  prudent  and  proper  to  do  so. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  the  garrison,  consisting  of  fifty-four 
regular  troops  and  twelve  militia -men,  together  with  several 
families,  evacuated  the  fort.  When  about  a  mile  on  its  march, 
Captain  Heald  observed  that  the  Indians  were  preparing  for  an 
attack,  and  made  dispositions  for  defense.  A  short  conflict 
ensued,  in  which  about  one-half  of  the  garrison,  and  some  women 
and  children,  were  killed,  when  Captain  Heald  surrendered.  The 
fort  was  burnt  by  the  Indians  the  next  morning,  and  the  prison 
ers  were  distributed  among  the  bands. 

The  most  distinguished  victim  of  this  short  and  sanguinary 
action  was  Captain  Wells.  In  his  chagrin  and  despondency  at 
the  fate  which  the  Willfulness  and  blindness  of  Captain  Heald 
was  bringing  upon  the  whole  retreating  party,  he  had,  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  savages  under  such  feelings,  blackened  his 
face,  and  was  thus  found  among  the  slain.  We  have  already 
alluded  to  his  services  and  gallantry  in  General  Wayne's  cam 
paign.  His  singular  and  eventful  life,  the  energy  and  boldness 
of  his  character,  entitle  him  to  a  passing  notice.  He  was,  while 
a  child,  captured  by  the  Indians,  and  became  the  adopted  son 
of  Little  Turtle,  the  most  eminent  forest  warrior  and  statesman 

was  elected  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  city  convention  in  1863,  and  again  in  1865.  In  1864,  he  was 
appointed  administrator  of  his  father's  estate;  he  was  elected  chairman 
of  the  second  senatorial  district  Democratic  committee  in  1864  and  1866, 
and  chairman  of  the  first  congressional  Democratic  committee  four  years 
— from  I860  to  1870.  In  1864,  and  again  in  1866,  he  was  nominated  to 
the  office  of  State  senator,  but  declined  the  honor.  He  was  appointed, 
in  1871,  a  commissioner  of  the  plan  of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  also  one 
of  the  committee  on  the  location  of  the  Detroit  park. 

Very  many  of  our  past  and  present  prominent  men  owe  their  position 
to  Mr.  Campau.  He  is  considered  one  of  the  most  influential  men  of  the 
Democratic  party  in  Detroit,  as  well  as  a  leading  spirit  among  its  mem 
bers.  Mr.  Campau  is  a  prudent,  sagacious  and  trustworthy  gentleman, 
and  a  true  Democrat.  In  social  life,  he  is  modest  and  unassuming; 
charitable  to  a  fault,  punctual  to  his  engagements,  but  in  business  an 
autocrat  in  bearing. 


372  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

of  his  time.  In  the  defeats  of  Harmer,  on  St.  Clair,  he  took  a 
distinguished  part,  commanding,  in  the  latter  action,  three  hun 
dred  young  warriors,  who  were  posted  immediately  in  front  of  the 
artillery,  and  caused  much  carnage  among  those  who  served  the 
pieces. 

After  this  sanguinary  affair,  his  forecast  led  him  to  anticipate 
the  final  ascendency  of  the  whites,  who  would  be  roused  by  these 
reverses  to  such  exertions  as ,  must  be  successful,  with  their  pre 
ponderance  of  power ;  and  he  resolved  to  abandon  the  savages. 
His  mode  of  announcing  this  determination  was  in  accordance 
with  the  simple  and  sententious  habits  of  a  forest  life.  He  was 
traversing  the  woods  in  the  morning,  with  his  adopted  father, 
Little  Turtle,  when,  pointing  to  the  heavens,  he  said :  "  When 
the  sun  reaches  the  meridian,  I  leave  you  for  the  whites ;  and, 
wherever  you  meet  me,  in  battle,  you  must  kill  me,  as  I  shall 
endeavor  to  do  the  same  with  you."  The  bonds  of  affection  and 
respect  which  had  bound  these  two  singular  and  highly  gifted 
men  together  were  not  severed  or  weakened  by  this  abrupt  declar 
ation.  Captain  Wells  soon  after  joined  Wayne's  army ;  and,  by 
his  intimacy  with  the  wilderness,  his  perfect  knowledge  of  the 
Indians'  haunts,  habits,  and  modes  of  warfare,  became  an  invalu 
able  auxiliary  to  the  Americans.  He  served  faithfully  and  fought 
bravely  through  the  campaign ;  and,  at  the  close,  when  peace 
had  restored  amity  between  the  Indians  and  the  whites,  rejoined 
his  foster-father,  Little  Turtle,  and  their  friendship  and  connec 
tion  was  broken  only  by  the  death  of  the  latter.  When  his  body 
was  found  among  the  slain,  at  Chicago,  the  Indians  are  said  to 
have  drunk  his  blood,  from  a  superstitious  belief  that  they  should 
thus  imbibe  his  warlike  endowments,  which  had  been  considered 
by  them  as  preeminent. 

During  the  fall  and  winter  succeeding  these  events,  General 
Harrison  had  been  collecting  an  army,  for  the  purpose  of  recover 
ing  the  northwestern  frontier.  Having  advanced  as  far  as  San- 
dusky,  he  detached  General  Winchester,  in  advance,  to  the 
Maumee.  General  Winchester  sent  forward  a  foraging  party  as 
far  as  the  River  Raisin,  which  reached  that  place  on  the  eighteenth 
of  January,  1813,  and  dislodged  a  body  of  Indians  found  there. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


373 


The  next  day,  General  Winchester,  with  his  main  body,  joined 
this  advance,  having  a  force  of  about  one  thousand  men.  He 
encamped  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river;  but,  although  fore 
warned  of  the  approach  of  a  hostile  party  from  Maiden,  it  does 


HON.  T.  J.  CAMPAU'S  RESIDENCE. 

The  above  illustration  of  Mr.  Campau's  residence  shows  that  he  lives 
in  a  style  becoming  his  wealth  and  position.  His  brick  mansion,  situated 
at  500  Jefferson  avenue,  was  erected  by  himself  in  1869,  and  is  furnished 
in  princely  style.  The  stables,  which  contain  a  fine  assortment  of 


374  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

not  appear  that  lie  made  any  disposition  of  his  troops  to  meet  the 
emergency.  On  the  twenty-second,  early  in  the  morning,  his 
camp  was  attacked  by  the  British  and  Indians.  Portions  of  the 
line  defended  themselves  with  obstinacy  and  success,  particularly 
the  left,  under  Major  Madison.  General  Winchester  himself 
had  taken  lodgings  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  at  some  dis 
tance  from  the  scene  of  action ;  and  it  is  said  that  he  was  cap 
tured  before  he  joined  his  troops.  Being  without  any  general 
direction,  the  line,  with  the  exception  before  mentioned,  soon  fell 
into  confusion  and  gave  way,  retreating  across  the  river  ;  but  the 
savages,  who  anticipated  such  a  movement,  were  in  readiness 
there  to  meet  the  fugitives,  and  few  escaped  the  slaughter.  Major 
Madison  continued  to  defend  himself,  until  informed  by  General 
Winchester — then  a  prisoner — that  his  party  had  been  surren 
dered. 

The  bloody  scene  which  followed  this  disastrous  morning  has 
given  celebrity  to  the  spot,  far  beyond  the  importance  of  this 
event.  The  massacre  at  the  River  Raisin  will,  ever  remain  a  san 
guinary  blot  on  the  military  fame  of  Great  Britain.  Most  of  the 
wounded  were  collected  in  one  or  two  houses  near  the  battle 
ground.  General  Winchester,  whose  situation  enabled  him  to 
observe  the  conduct  and  disposition  of  the  savages,  felt  an  appre 
hension  for  the  fate  of  those  unfortunate  sufferers,  and  frequently 
reminded  General  Proctor  of  his  solemn  engagements  to  protect 
them.  Whether  his  comparatively  small  number  of  regular 
troops  could  not  control  the  cannibal  ferocity  of  his  allies ;  or, 
whether  he  looked  on  their  bloody  orgies  without  opposition  or 
remonstrance,  may  be  left  undetermined  by  the  charity  of  his 
tory,  as  long  as  the  proofs  are  at  all  questionable.  There  appears 
to  be  a  dark  shadow,  suited  to  the  blackness  of  the  transaction, 
resting  over  it,  and  nothing,  perhaps,  is  distinctly  known,  except- 

blooded  horses,  and  which  are  the  pride  of  Mr.  Campau,  are  situated  in 
the  yard,  and  are  a  marvel  of  unrivaled  convenience  and  comfort.  The 
front  part  contains  the  carriage  house,  harness  room,  wash  house  and 
the  coachman's  room,  and  in  the  rear  are  the  stables.  His  noted  trot 
ting  horses  are  White  Bird,  Ida,  Mary,  Ned  and  Prince,  each  one  being 
kept  in  a  box  stall. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  375 

ing  the  horrible  result.  Butchery  and  conflagration  were  at 
work  through  the  night,  and  these  unhappy  victims,  who  trusted 
to  the  mercy  or  honor  of  the  British  character,  were  mostly,  if 
not  all,  buried  under  a  heap  of  smoldering  ruins. 

This  series  of  events,  so  unfortunate  for  the  Americans,  and  so 
triumphant  for  the  British,  filled  the  inhabitants  of  Michigan 
with  despondency.  General  Harrison's  operations  on  the  frontier 
of  Ohio  threw  an  occasional  gleam  on  their  dark  fortunes.  The 
signal  triumph  of  Croghan,  at  Sandusky,  and  some  of  the  events 
at  Fort  Meigs,  showed  that  victory  might  still  revisit  the  Ameri 
can  arms.  These  operations,  however,  had  no  immediate  influ 
ence  on  the  condition  of  the  Territory,  until  Perry's  victory,  on 
the  tenth  of  September,  1813,  opened  a  passage  over  the  lake  for 
the  American  forces.  This  brilliant  and  important  naval  action, 
which  was  so  instrumental  in  restoring  Michigan  to  the  Union, 
deserves  particular  notice,  as  an  essential  part  of  her  history. 

Commodore  Perry's  fleet  had  been  built,  under  great  disadvan 
tages,  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania.  The  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  har 
bor  would  not  permit  the  vessels  to  pass  out  with  their  armament 
on  board.  For  some  time  after  the  fleet  was  ready  to  sail,  the 
British  commodore  continued  to  hover  off  the  harbor,  well 
knowing  it  must  either  remain  there  inactive,  or  venture  out  with 
almost  a  certainty  of  defeat.  During  this  blockade,  Commodore 
Perry  had  no  alternative  but  to  ride  at  anchor  at  Erie.  For 
tunately,  early  in  September,  the  enemy  relaxed  his  vigilance, 
and  withdrew  to  the  upper  end  of  the  lake.  Commodore  Perry 
seized  the  opportune  moment  to  pass  the  bar,  and  fit  his  vessels 
for  action.  This  triumph  over  the  vigilance  of  the  British  was  a 
presage  of  the  still  greater  triumph  that  followed. 

On  the  tenth  of  September,  at  sunrise,  while  at  anchor  at 
Put-in-Bay,  Commodore  Perry  discovered  the  enemy  towards  the 
head  of  the  lake.  He  immediately  got  under  weigh,  and,  with  a 
favoring  wind,  brought  him  to  action  a  few  minutes  before  noon. 
His  flag  vessel,  the  Lawrence,  was  engaged  with  the  whole  force 
of  the  enemy  for  nearly  two  hours  before  the  wind  permitted  her 
consorts  to  join  in  close  combat.  She  gallantly  maintained  the 
unequal  fight,  until  all  her  rigging  was  cut  to  pieces,  every  gun 


376  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

rendered  useless,  and  the  greater  part  of  her  crew  either  killed  or 
wounded.  In  this  perilous  condition,  Commodore  Perry  adopted 
one  of  those  bold,  decisive  resolutions  which  often  enable  a  great 
commander  to  convert  an  apparent  defeat  into  a  certain  victory. 
He  caused  his  boat  to  be  lowered,  and  launched  himself  and  his 
fortunes  upon  the  bosom  of  the  lake,  amid  the  showers  of  death 
that  fell  around  him.  Reaching  the  Niagara  in  safety,  which  was 
just  coming  into  close  action,  with  a  swelling  breeze,  he  at  once 
determined  to  break  through  the  enemy's  fleet,  already  somewhat 
crippled  by  the  contest  with  the  Lawrence.  The  Niagara  had 
every  rope  and  spar,  every  gun  and  man  untouched.  She  broke 
into  the  enemy's  line,  and,  ranging  by  the  vessels  in  succession, 
poured  in  her  broadsides,  compelling  them,  one  by  one,  to  lower 
their  flags  in  token  of  submission,  until  they  all  were  "  ours."  In 
achieving  this  decisive  victory,  the  Niagara  was  assisted  by  the 
smaller  vessels,  which  were  brought  into  cooperation  by  Captain 
Elliott,  who  had  volunteered  in  this  service  when  Commodore 
Perry  assumed  command  of  his  vessel.  Not  long  after  Commo 
dore  Perry  boarded  the  Niagara,  the  Lawrence  struck  her  colors. 
She  was,  however,  but  a  fleeting  trophy ;  for,  before  she  could  be 
taken  possession  of,  every  British  flag  had  followed  her  humiliat 
ing  example. 

This  consummate  victory  opened  the  lake  to  General  Harrison, 
who,  soon  after,  crossed  his  army  to  the  Canadian  shore,  and,  in 
the  course  of  a  short  campaign,  which  was  brilliantly  finished 
by  the  battle  of  the  Moravian  towns,  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
northwestern  frontier.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  September,  1813, 
Detroit  was  occupied  by  a  detachment  of  his  army.  An  armis 
tice  was  concluded  with  the  Indians  on  the  eighteenth  of  October 
following,  thus  restoring  tranquillity  and  security  to  the  Territory. 

General  Harrison  soon  after  moved  down,  with  his  main  body, 
to  the  Niagara  frontier,  and  left  General  Cass  in  command  at 
Detroit.  No  military  movements  took  place  during  the  winter 
following,  excepting  an  incursion  into  the  interior  of  the  upper 
province  by  Major  Holmes,  who  was  attacked  near  Stony  Creek, 
and  maintained  his  ground  with  great  bravery  and  success. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


MACKINAW  —  EXPEDITION  UNDER  COMMODORE  SINCLAIR  AND  COLONEL 
CROGHAN  FOR  ITS  REDUCTION  —  COLONEL  TURNER  CAPTURES  THE 
PERSEVERANCE  AT  ST.  MARY'S,  AND  REDUCES  THAT  POST—CAPTURE 
OF  THE  MINK — DESTRUCTION  OF  GOODS  BELONGING  TO  THE  NORTH 
WEST  COMPANY — LANDING  OF  THE  FORCES  AT  MACKINAW — FALL  OF 
MAJOR  HOLMES  —  DEFEAT  OF  THE  AMERICANS — FULL  ACCOUNT  OF 
THE  BATTLE,  ETC. 

So  FAR  as  the  Northwest  was  concerned,  the  war  was  now  prac 
tically  closed,  yet  there  was  one  post  of  great  importance  which 
had  not  been  wrested  from  the  English.  That  was  Fort  Macki 
naw.  Active  steps  were  soon  taken  to  dispossess  the  English  of 
this  stronghold,  and  drive  them  wholly  from  the  American  soil. 
Immediately  after  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  an  expedition  to  the 
upper  lakes  was  contemplated ;  but,  unfortunately,  it  was  pre 
vented  by  the  non-arrival  of  two  schooners,  which  had  been  sent 
to  Cleveland  and  Bass  Islands  for  provisions.  These  vessels  had 
arrived  off  Maiden,  but  a  storm  from  the  west  drove  them  to  the 
lower  end  of  the  lake,  where  they  were  stranded.  Early  in  the 
following  April,  1814,  this  expedition  up  Lake  Huron  was  again 
proposed,  the  object  being  twofold — the  capture  of  Fort  Macki 
naw,  and  the  destruction  of  certain  vessels,  which  it  was  said  the 
English  were  building  in  Gloucester,  or  Matchadash  Bay,  at  the 
southeast  extremity  of  the  lake.  But  this  plan  was  also  aban 
doned  ;  partly  from  a  want  of  men,  partly  from  the  belief  that 
Great  Britain  did  not,  as  had  been  supposed,  intend  to  make  an 
effort  to  regain  the  commerce  of  the  upper  lakes;  and  partly, 
also,  from  a  misunderstanding  between  General  Harrison  and 
Colonel  Croghan,  who  commanded  at  Detroit,  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  Secretary  of  War  on  the  other.  No  sooner  had  this  plan 
been  abandoned  than  it  was  revived  again,  in  consequence  of  new 
information  of  the  establishment  at  Matchadash  Bay. 


378  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Accordingly,  orders  were  issued  on  the  second  day  of  June, 
and  ample  preparations  were  soon  made.  A  squadron  was  fitted 
out,  consisting  of  the  United  States  sloops-of-war  Niagara  and 
Lawrence,  carrying  twenty  guns  each,  with  the  smaller  schooners, 
Caledonia,  Scorpion,  Tigress,  Detroit,  and  others,  and  a  land  force 
of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  men,  placed  on  board.  Commodore 
Sinclair  was  the  naval  commander,  and  Lieutenant  -  Colonel 
Croghan,  a  young  man  who  had  gallantly  and  successfully 
defended  Sandusky  during  the  early  part  of  the  war,  had  charge 
of  the  militia. 

The  squadron  reached  Lake  Huron  on  the  twelfth  of  June,  on 
its  way  to  Matchadash  Bay.  Disappointment,  however,  awaited 
them.  Every  possible  effort  was  made  to  gain  the  desired  bay 
and  destroy  the  imaginary  vessels  there  building,  but  in  vain.  No 
pilot  could  be  found  for  that  unfrequented  part  of  the  lake. 
Islands  and  sunken  rocks  were  numerous,  and  threatened  destruc 
tion  to  the  fleet.  The  lake  was  almost  continually  covered  with 
a  dense  fog,  and,  from  the  time  already  consumed  in  the  fruitless 
attempt,  provisions  were  growing  short,  hence,  that  part  of  the 
work  was  abandoned,  and  the  squadron  proceeded  to  Mackinaw. 

When  nearing  the  place  of  destination,  a  council  was  called,  to 
decide  whether  they  should  proceed  at  once  to  the  capture  of  Fort 
Mackinaw,  or  first  repair  to  St.  Joseph's,  and  destroy  the  enemy's 
works  at  that  place.  It  was  urged  that  an  immediate  attack  upon 
the  fort  was  policy,  inasmuch  as  the  English,  having  had  no 
intimation  of  their  approach,  were,  probably,  without  Indian 
allies,  and  unprepared  to  defend  the  island ;  that,  should  they 
first  proceed  to  St.  Joseph's,  time  would  thus  be  given  the  English 
to  call  in  these  savage  auxiliaries,  and  so  strengthen  themselves, 
that,  upon  their  return,  it  would  be  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to 
take  the  place;  but  Sinclair  thought  that,  by  leaving  a  part 
of  the  squadron  to  cruise  around  the  island  during  his  absence, 
this  could  be  prevented ;  hence,  in  spite  of  salutary  advice  from 
those  who  knew  the  Indian  character  far  better  than  themselves, 
it  was  agreed  between  the  naval  and  military  commanders  to 
proceed  at  once  to  St.  Joseph's.  This  was  a  fatal  error,  as  will 
be  seen  in  the  sequel. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


379 


On  the  twentieth  of  July,  they  arrived  at  St.  Joseph's,  and 
found  the  British  establishment  at  that  point  deserted.  This 
they  burned,  but  left  untouched  the  town  and  Northwest  Com 
pany's  storehouses.  While  wind-bound  at  this  point,  Sinclair 


HON.  ALFRED    RUSSELL. 

ALFRED  RUSSELL,  one  of  Detroit's  most  distinguished  members  of  the 
bar,  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Grafton  county,  New  Hampshire,  March  18, 
1830.  Mr.  Russell  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1850, 
and  at  the  Dane  law  school  of  Harvard  University  in  the  class  of  1852. 
He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Meredith  Bridge,  New  Hampshire,  Novem 
ber,  1852,  and  emigrated  to  Michigan  during  the  same  month  and  settled 
in  Detroit.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  that  city,  he  entered  the  law  office 
of  Hon.  James  F.  Joy — studied  law  with  that  gentleman  for  a  brief 


380  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

captured  the  Northwest  Company's  schooner,  Mink,  on  her  way 
from  Mackinaw  to  St.  Mary's,  with  a  cargo  of  flour,  and  by  this 
means  received  intelligence  that  the  schooner  Perseverance  was 
lying  above  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary,  at  the  foot  of  Lake  Superior, 
in  waiting  to  transport  the  Mink's  cargo  to  Fort  Williams.  Upon 
the  receipt  of  this  intelligence,  he  dispatched  Lieutenant  Turner, 
an  active  and  enterprising  officer,  to  capture  her,  and,  if  possible, 
get  her  down  the  falls.  Colonel  Croghan  dispatched  Major 
Holmes,  with  a  party  of  regulars,  to  cooperate  in  the  expedition, 
in  which  the  capture  of  St.  Mary's  was  included.  The  following 
official  report  of  Lieutenant  Turner  to  Sinclair  will  give  the 
reader  a  clear  idea  of  what  was  effected  by  this  movement.  It  is 
dated  U.  S.  schooner  Scorpion,  off  Michilimackinac,  July  28th, 
1814: 

"  SIR — I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  agreeably  to  your 
orders  of  the  22d  instant,  I  proceeded  on  the  expedition  to  Lake 
Superior,  with  the  launches.  I  rowed  night  and  day ;  but,  hav 
ing  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  against  a  strong  current,  informa 
tion  had  reached  the  enemy,  at  St.  Mary's,  of  our  approach, 
about  two  hours  before  I  arrived  at  that  place,  carried  by  Indians, 
in  their  light  canoes,  several  of  whom  I  chased,  and  by  firing  on 
them,  and  killing  some,  prevented  their  purposes ;  some  I  cap 
tured  and  kept  prisoners  until  my  arrival ;  others  escaped.  The 
force  under  Major  Holmes  prevented  anything  like  resistance  at 

period  as  did  he  also  with  the  Messrs.  Walker.  Mr.  Russell  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Michigan  in  1853,  and,  in  1854,  formed  a  partnership  with 
the  Messrs.  Walker,  which  lasted  until  1861.  During  that  year,  Mr. 
Russell  was  appointed  United  States  district  attorney  for  Michigan,  by 
President  Lincoln,  and  was  reappointed  by  President  Johnson  in  1865. 
Mr.  Russell  was  originally  a  Whig  of  the  New  England  Federal  party 
school,  and  acted  with  the  Free  Soilers  during  the  existence  of  that 
party.  Upon  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill,  he  took  a  prom 
inent  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Michigan,  and 
has  since  been  more  or  less  closely  identified  with  that  organization.  Mr. 
Russell  is,  however,  a  free  thinker  and  an  independent  actor  in  politics. 
As  a  lawyer,  he  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  profession,  and  is  known 
throughout  the  State  as  an  eminently  useful  citizen,  and,  in  his  social 
relations,  as  a  polished  gentleman. 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN. 


381 


the  fort,  the  enemy,  with  their  Indians,  carrying  with  them  all  the 
light,  valuable  articles,  peltry,  clothes,  etc.  I  proceeded  across 
the  strait  of  Lake  Superior  without  a  moment's  delay ;  and,  on 
my  appearance,  the  enemy,  finding  they  could  not  get  off  with 


DR.  J.  W.   KERMOTT. 

AMONG  the  numerous  professional  men  represented  in  this  work  will 
be  found  many  who  have,  through  their  own  unaided  industry,  raised 
themselves  from  small  beginnings  to  positions  of  usefulness  and  import 
ance.  This  may  be  truly  said  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Kermott.  He  was  born  in 
the  province  of  New  Brunswick,  in  1819.  At  the  very  early  age  of 
nineteen,  he  emigrated  to  Canada  West,  where,  after  availing  himself, 
through  many  obstacles,  of  such  educational  advantages  as  his  industry 
could  command,  he  began  to  teach  school.  In  this  occupation,  he  made 
valuable  progress  for  himself.  The  advantages  were  twofold,  for  while 


382  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

the  vessel  I  was  in  quest  of,  set  fire  to  her  in  several  places,  and 
left  her.  I  succeeded  in  boarding  her,  and,  by  considerable  exer 
tions,  extinguished  the  flames,  and  secured  her  from  sinking.  I 
then  stripped  her  and  prepared  for  getting  her  down  the  falls. 
Adverse  winds  prevented  my  attempting  the  falls  until  the  twenty- 
sixth,  when  every  possible  effort  was  used,  but,  I  am  sorry  to  say, 
without  success,  to  get  her  over  in  safety.  The  fall,  in  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile,  is  forty-five  feet,  and  the  channel  very  rocky. 
The  current  runs  from  twenty  to  thirty  knots,  and  in  one  place  there 
is  a  perpendicular  leap  of  ten  feet,  between  three  rocks.  Here 
she  bilged,  but  was  brought  down  so  rapidly  that  we  succeeded 
in  running  her  on  shore,  below  the  rapids,  before  she  filled,  and 
burned  her.  She  was  a  fine,  new  schooner,  upwards  of  one  hun 
dred  tons,  called  the  Perseverance,  and  will  be  a  severe  loss  to  the 
Northwest  Company.  Had  I  succeeded  in  getting  her  safe,  I 
could  have  loaded  her  to  advantage  from  the  enemy's  store 
houses.  I  have,  however,  brought  down  four  captured  boats, 
loaded  with  Indian  goods,  to  a  considerable  amount ;  the  balance, 
contained  in  four  large  and  two  small  storehouses,  was  destroyed, 
amounting  in  value  to  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
All  private  property  was,  according  to  your  orders,  respected. 
The  officers  and  men  under  my  command  behaved  with  great 
activity  and  zeal,  particularly  Midshipman  Swartwout." 

On  the  return  of  the  launches  to  St.  Joseph's,  the  squadron 
proceeded  to  Mackinaw,  where  it  arrived  on  the  twenty-sixth. 

his  duties  in  the  school  room  brought  moderate  pecuniary  gain,  the 
nature  of  his  labors  had  a  most  salutary  effect  in  training  his  mind  in  all 
those  practical  questions  so  requisite  for  the  foundation  of  the  profes 
sional  studies  with  which  he  was  soon  after  deeply  absorbed. 

Prudence  and  perseverance,  at  the  end  of  several  years'  teaching, 
enabled  him  to  proceed  to  Philadelphia,  where,  at  the  most  celebrated 
medical  university  in  America,  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine. 
In  this  institution,  he  displayed  that  energy  characteristic  of  his  life,  and 
prosecuted  his  most  difficult  studies  with  marked  success.  Graduating 
in  due  time,  he  returned  to  his  adopted  home  in  Canada  West,  where  he 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Not  many  years  previous, 
he  had  arrived  in  the  same  place  a  stranger  to  its  inhabitants  and  without 
means.  Now  he  was  welcomed  by  warm  friends  and  enjoyed  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  383 

Daring  the  time  that  had  now  elapsed  since  the  first  appearance 
of  the  fleet  off  Lighthouse  Point,  Colonel  McDonall,  British 
commander  at  Mackinaw,  had  been  strengthening  his  position ; 
and  such  aid  as  the  country  afforded  had  been  summoned  to 
his  assistance.  Nor  was  this  aid  inconsiderable.  Under  the 
unfortunate  circumstances  attending  the  attack,  more  efficient 
auxiliaries  could  not  have  been  found  than  those  very  savages, 
who,  during  that  brief  period  of  delay  had  gathered,  in  large 
numbers,  upon  the  island.  Batteries  had  been  planted  at  various 
places  on  the  heights  which  best  commanded  the  approaches  to 
the  island.  One  was  situated  on  the  height  overlooking  the  old 
distillery,  another  upon  the  high  point  just  west  of  the  fort,  and 
others  along  the  ridge  back  of  the  present  town,  from  the  fort 
to  Robinson's  Folly.  Thus  that  officer,  though  he  had  but  few 
men,  comparatively,  in  command,  and  must  have  surrendered  at 
once  had  an  immediate  attack  been  made  upon  him,  was  able, 
with  the  advantages  he  had  now  gained,  to  withstand  a  strong 
force. 

Sinclair  pushed  up  as  near  to  the  channel  between  Round  and 
Mackinaw  islands  as  he  dared,  on  account  of  the  batteries  of  the 
enemy,  and  as  close  to  the  eastern  extremity  of  Round  Island  as 
safety  would  permit,  and  anchored.  Scarcely,  however,  had  the 
anchors  reached  the  bottom,  when  the  English  opened  a  brisk 
fire  upon  him,  and  he  concluded  to  move  to  a.  more  respectful 
distance. 

When  the  fleet    had    been  moved   further    away   toward  Bois 

accomplishments  of  his  recent  efforts  at  college.  He  at  once  entered 
upon  a  most  flattering  practice,  and  in  a  few  years  accumulated  a  large 
fortune,  which,  it  should  be  mentioned  here,  he  afterwards  lost  in  an 
unfortunate  speculation. 

In  1856,  he  emigrated  to  Detroit,  where  he  has  since  remained,  enjoying 
a  practice  only  due  to  his  usefulness  and  professional  abilities.  In  1860, 
he  commenced  the  manufacture  of  medicines,  which  he  has  continued 
until  the  present  date  with  remarkable  success. 

Dr.  Kermott  is  rendering  himself  useful  to  society  in  religious  as  well 
as  medical  labors.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Central  Methodist 
Church,  and  his  efforts,  with  other  useful  men  in  that  church,  have  been 
productive  of  much  good. 


384  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Blanc,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  guns,  Croghan  dispatched 
an  officer,  with  a  number  of  men,  to  Round  Island,  to  reconnoiter 
the  enemy's  position,  and,  if  possible,  find  some  advantageous 
point  at  which  to  erect  a  battery.  They  landed,  and  selected,  as 
the  most  advantageous  position  for  a  battery,  a  point  just  above 
the  old  lime  kiln,  which  is  the  crowning  point  of  the  island. 
No  sooner,  however,  had  the  movement  been  discovered  by  the 
British,  than  two  or  three  hundred  birch  bark  canoes,  with  sev 
eral  bateaux  and  other  boats,  were  launched,  and  a  large  party 
of  Indians  started  in  pursuit.  Discovering  the  movement,  the 
party  hastened  back.  When  they  reached  their  boats,  the  Indians 
could  be  seen  skulking  through  the  woods  after  them,  and  one 
of  their  number,  a  Frenchman,  who  had  been  a  little  behind,  was 
captured.  They  now  sprang  into  their  boats  and  pushed  off,  with 
as  much  dispatch  as  possible ;  but,  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
beach,  scarcely  out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire,  the  boat  struck 
a  rock,  which  was  just  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water,  and 
swung  around,  as  though  on  a  pivot.  At  this  the  savages,  who 
were  fast  emerging  from  the  thickets  and  approaching  the  beach, 
fired  upon  them.  The  fire  was  returned,  but  without  execution 
on  either  side.  Fearing  that  the  Indians,  upon  arriving  at  the 
point  from  which  they  had  embarked,  would  be  able  to  reach 
them,  the  officer  ordered  the  soldiers  to  cease  firing  and  endeavor 
to  clear  the  boat  from  the  rock.  This  accomplished,  they  returned 
without  further  mishap  to  the  fleet.  Upon  learning  that  one 
of  the  party  sent  out  had  been  captured  by  the  Indians,  Sinclair 
ordered  a  small  vessel  of  one  gun  to  pass  round  to  the  further 
side  of  the  island,  that,  if  possible,  he  might  be  retaken.  A 
strong  wind  was  blowing  from  the  west,  against  which  the  little 
bark  had  to  make  her  way  through  the  narrow  channel  that 
separates  Round  and  Bois  Blanc  islands ;  hence  the  task  was  diffi 
cult.  She  had  scarcely  laid  her  course,  when  the  beach  was 
thronged  with  savages,  and,  as  often  as  she  came  in  reach,  in 
beating  through  this  channel,  these  savages  poured  upon  her  a 
shower  of  musket-balls.  This  fire  was  returned  with  much  spirit, 
but  neither  party  suffered  loss.  The  Indians  now  began  their 
return  to  Mackinaw,  with  their  victim,  chanting  the  death-dirge. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


385 


A  shot  was  fired  at  them  from  the  Lawrence,  but  without  effect. 
As  they  neared  the  island,  the  Indians  that  had  remained  came 
down  to  meet  them,  and  the  prisoner  would  have  been  killed 
and  feasted  upon  by  his  inhuman  captors,  had  not  the  British 


HON.  ZACHARIAH   CHANDLER. 

ZACHARIAH  CHANDLER  was  born  in  Bedford,  New  Hampshire,  Decem 
ber  10,  1813,  received  an  academic  education,  settled  in  Detroit,  Mich., 
in  1833,  where  he  became  an  eminently  successful  dry  goods  merchant. 

In  politics  a  Whig,  while  that  party  was  in  existence,  he  was  elected 
mayor  of  Detroit  in  1851,  but,  while  leading  the  Whig  ticket  largely, 
was  defeated  for  governor  of  Michigan  in  1852.  He  was  the  first  Repub 
lican  senator  in  Congress  from  Michigan,  succeeding  Senator  Cass  in 
office,  taking  his  seat  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Congress  in  1857,  and  served  as 
25 


386  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

commander  sent  a  strong  guard  of  soldiers  and  rescued  him,  the 
moment  the  canoes  touched  the  shore. 

During  the  next  day,  as  the  Lawrence  was  cruising  about  the 
island,  a  thick  fog  suddenly  came  down,  and  enveloped  all  in 
obscurity.  When,  later  in  the  day,  this  fog  lifted,  the  commander 
found  that  he  was  within  a  very  short  distance  of  the  southwest 
part  of  the  island,  with  scarcely  any  wind,  and  in  range  of  the 
enemy's  guns.  A  vigorous  fire  was  opened  upon  him  from  the 
battery  near  the  west  end  of  the  fort ;  but  with  such  want  of 
skill  that  he  suffered  no  damage  from  it.  He  fired  a  single  shot 
in  return,  but  could  not  elevate  his  guns  sufficiently  to  batter  the 
walls  of  the  fort.  Unfavorable  weather  prevented  operations  for 
several  days,  when  Colonel  Croghan,  having  learned  something 
of  the  strength  of  the  enemy's  fortifications,  and  of  the  number 
and  spirit  of  the  savage  allies  which  the  English  had  called  to 
their  assistance,  despaired  of  being  able  to  take  the  place  by 
storm,  as  he  had  hoped.  He  therefore  determined  to  effect  a  land 
ing,  and  establish  himself  on  some  favorable  position  whence  he 
might  annoy  the  enemy,  by  gradual  and  slow  approaches,  under 
cover  of  his  artillery,  which  he  knew  to  be  superior  to  that  of 
the  foe. 

On  the  fourth  of  August,  the  vessels  of  the  fleet  were  ranged 
in  line  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  yards  from  the  beach, 
and  the  small  boats  made  ready  to  carry  the  army  to  the  island. 
Scarcely,  however,  had  the  work  of  embarkation  commenced, 

a  member  of  the  committee  on  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  committee 
on  commerce,  and  the  committee  on  revolutionary  claims. 

At  the  first  session  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  in  July,  1861,  the 
Democratic  senators  from  the  Southern  States  having  withdrawn  from 
the  United  States  Senate,  leaving  the  Republicans  in  the  majority  for  the 
first  time,  Mr.  Chandler  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on 
commerce,  which  position  he  has  held  during  each  succeeding  Congress 
to  the  present  time,  he  having  been  reflected  to  the  Senate  in  1863,  for 
the  full  term  of  six  years,  and  again  in  1869,  for  the  term  ending  in  1875. 

In  addition  to  his  important  position  on  the  committee  on  commerce, 
after  the  committee  on  mines  and  mining  was  formed,  he  was  a  member 
of  that  committee,  and  was  also  a  member  of  each  of  the  celebrated  joint 
congressional  committees  on  the  conduct  of  the  war,  during  the  Thirty- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  387 

when  the  adjacent  thickets  were  observed  to  be  full  of  savages, 
plumed  and  painted  for  the  strife.  When  all  was  ready,  and  the 
word  of  command  had  been  spoken,  they  moved  toward  the  land 
ing,  with  measured  dip  of  the  oar,  and,  meanwhile,  a  brisk  can 
nonading  cleared  the  thickets  of  their  lurking  foes.  Under  cover 
of  the  guns  the  landing  was  easily  effected,  and  the  best  possible 
arrangements  of  the  troops  made  preparatory  to  the  marching. 

Colonel  Croghan  quickly  formed  his  line,  and  advanced  to  the 
edge  of  the  clearing,  where  he  received  intelligence  that  the 
enemy  was  in  waitiug  for  him,  and  ready  to  dispute  his  progress. 
In  a  few  seconds  after  he  received  this  information,  a  fire  was 
opened  upon  him  from  the  enemy's  battery.  He  now  carefully 
surveyed  the  clearing  before  him,  and  became  convinced  that  the 
enemy's  position  was  well  selected  ;  but,  by  a  vigorous  movement, 
he  hoped  to  outflank  him  and  gain  his  rear.  Accordingly,  he 
decided  to  change  his  own  position,  and  advance  Major  Holmes' 
battalion  of  regulars  on  the  right  of  the  militia.  This  move 
ment  was  immediately  ordered,  and,  to  encourage  his  men,  Major 
Holmes  led  them  in  person;  but,  while  gallantly  pressing  on  to 
the  charge,  a  destructive  fire  was  opened  by  some  Indians  con 
cealed  in  a  thicket,  near  the  American  right,  and  the  brave  Major 
fell,  mortally  wounded.  The  battalion,  having  now  lost  the  ser 
vices  of  its  commander,  fell  into  confusion,  from  which  the  best 
efforts  of  its  remaining  officers  were  not  able  to  recover  it. 

Finding    it  impossible  to  gain   the  enemy's  left,  owing  to  the 

seventh  and  Thirty-eighth  Congresses,  and  was  a  member  of  the  joint 
committee  on  Southern  outrages  since  the  war.  He  strongly  advocated 
all  practical  measures  for  the  discomfiture  of  the  rebels  and  their  allies, 
and  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion. 

During  the  war,  his  relations  with  President  Lincoln  were  of  a  most 
cordial  and  intimate  character,  and  he  was  a  member  of  the  national 
committee  appointed  to  accompany  the  remains  of  the  martyred  chief 
magistrate  to  Illinois.  His  faith  in  the  maintenance  of  the  integrity  of 
the  Republic  against  the  assaults  of  its  foes  never  faltered  nor  wavered 
during  the  darkest  hours  of  the  great  conflict. 

He  was  an  earnest  and  powerful  advocate  of  our  admirable  national 
banking  system,  and  aided  materially  in  its  establishment  upon  a  broad 
and  substantial  basis,  and  his  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  commercial  and 


388  GENERAL    HISTORY   OF   TfiE   STATES. 

impenetrable  thickness  of  the  woods,  a  charge  was  ordered  to  be 
made  by  the  regulars  immediately  against  the  front.  This 
charge,  though  made  in  some  confusion,  served  to  drive  the  enemy 
back  into  the  woods,  whence  an  annoying  fire  was  kept  up  by  the 
Indians.  Lieutenant  Morgan  was  now  ordered  up  with  a  light 
piece,  to  assist  the  left,  which  at  this  time  was  particularly  galled, 
and  the  excellent  service  of  this  piece  forced  the  enemy  to  retire 
to  a  greater  distance. 

Croghan  had  now  reached  the  point  at  which  he  had  hoped  to 
fortify  himself,  and  thence  harass  the  enemy  at  pleasure ;  but  he 
found  it  by  no  means  tenable,  on  account  of  the  thickets  and 
ravines  surrounding  it.  He  therefore  determined  no  longer  to 
expose  his  troops  to  the  fire  of  an  enemy  having  every  advantage 
which  could  be  obtained  from  numbers  and  a  knowledge  of  the 
position,  and  ordered  an  immediate  retreat  to  the  place  of  land 
ing.  When  the  troops  had  regained  the  shipping,  the  fleet  again 
moved  round  towards  Bois  Blanc,  and  anchored. 

While  the  forces  were  preparing  to  disembark,  previous  to  the 
engagement,  Mr.  Davenport  had  urged  Major  Holmes  to 
exchange  his  uniform  for  a  common  suit,  stating  that  the  Indians 
would  otherwise  certainly  make  a  mark  of  him  ;  but  Holmes 
replied  that  his  uniform  was  made  to  wear,  and  he  intended  to 
wear  it ;  adding  that,  if  it  was  his  day  to  fall,  he  was  willing. 
The  sequel  showed  how  unwise  he  was  in  not  listening  to  this 
advice.  The  party  of  Indians  posted  on  the  right  were  Winne- 

other  vital  interests  of  the  country  have  been  during  his  whole  public 
career  assiduous  and  untiring,  accompanied  with  a  large  degree  of  suc 
cess.  During  the  presidential  campaign  of  1872  he  was  chairman  of  the 
Union  Republican  Congressional  Executive  Committee,  and  the  skill  and 
energy  with  which  this  very  successful  campaign  was  conducted  was  due 
largely  to  his  efforts. 

Throughout  his  long  and  successful  Congressional  career  he  has  been 
particularly  noted  for  his  unswerving  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the 
State  he  represents,  winning,  even  from  his  opponents,  unqualified 
approval.  Amidst  all  the  temptations  which  necessarily  surround  a 
leader  of  a  great  and  successful  party,  he  has  never  stained  his  hands 
with  corruption,  and  even  his  political  enemies  admit  that  his  official 
career  has  been  distinguished  by  the  most  rigid  integrity. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


bagoes,  from  Green  Bay,  the  most  savage  and  cruel  of  all  the 
British  allies,  and  they,  indeed,  did  make  a  mark  of  him.  Five 
well-aimed  bullets  simultaneously  entered  his  breast,  and  he 
expired  almost  instantly.  Captain  Desha  also  felt  the  fury  of 


CHARLES    H.   BORGMAN. 

CHARLES  H.  BORGMAN,  the  present  city  clerk  of  Detroit,  and  for  many 
years  a  teacher  of  the  German  language  in  that  city,  is  a  native  of 
Prussia. 

He  came  to  the  United  States  at,  a  very  early  age,  and,  after  receiving  a 
substantial  education  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  removed  to  Michigan. 

His  first  active  employment  in  this  State  was  the  execution  of  several 
railroad  contracts.  Subsequently  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  teacher 
of  the  German  language  in  Detroit,  in  which  capacity  he  labored  zeal 
ously  for  ten  years,  achieving  much  success  and  winning  considerable 
local  popularity  as  a  professor  of  that  difficult  language.  These  duties 
brought  him  in  connection  with  the  better  class  of  citizens,  and  seems  to 


390  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

those  savages,  but,  fortunately,  escaped  with  his  life.  Captain 
Vanhorn  and  Lieutenant  Jackson,  both  brave,  intrepid  young 
men,  also  fell,  mortally  wounded,  at  the  head  of  their  respective 
commands.  Twelve  privates  were  killed  ;  six  sergeants,  three  cor 
porals,  one  musician,  and  twenty-eight  privates  wounded,  and  two 
privates  missing. 

The  most  shocking  barbarities  were  practiced  on  the  bodies  of 
the  slain.  They  were  literally  cut  to  pieces  by  their  savage  con 
querors.  Our  informant  remembers  seeing  the  Indians  come  to  the 
fort,  after  the  engagement,  some  with  a  hand,  some  with  a  head,  and 
some  with  a  foot  or  limb  ;  and  it  is  officially  stated  by  Sinclair,  upon 
the  testimony  of  two  ladies  (Mrs.  Davenport  and  Mrs.  John  Dous- 
man),  who  were  present  and  witnessed  it,  that  the  hearts  and 
livers  of  these  unfortunate  men  were  taken  out,  and  actually 
cooked  and  feasted  on — and  that,  too,  in  the  quarters  of  the 
British  officers,  sanctioned  by  Colonel  McDonall — by  the  savages. 
Fragments  of  these  bodies  were  taken  to  the  Indian  graveyard, 
west  of  the  village,  and  placed  on  poles  over  the  graves,  where 
they  remained  for  ten  days.  The  body  of  Major  Holmes,  whicji, 
by  neglect  of  the  soldiers  in  whose  hands  it  had  been  placed,  had 
been  left  on  the  field,  escaped  mutilation.  During  the  action, 
these  men  concealed  the  body  by  covering  it  with  rails  and 
leaves,  so  that  the  Indians  did  not  find  it.  It  had,  however,  been 
stripped,  but  the  British  commander  threatened  to  hang  the  rob 
bers  of  the  dead  if  the  articles  taken  were  not  immediately 
returned.  This  threat  soon  brought  the  clothes,  watch,  papers, 
etc.,  which  had  been  stolen  by  two  Frenchmen,  into  his  posses 
sion,  and,  with  the  body,  they  were  given  up  to  the  Americans. 

have  been  the  secret  force  that  secured  his  popular  majority  at  the  elec 
tion  of  city  officers  in  1871. 

Mr.  Bergman's  performance  of  the  duties  of  city  clerk  was  marked 
with  care,  ability  and  faithfulness.  In  the  fall  of  1873,  he  was  reflected 
by  the  largest  majority  given  to  any  candidate  before  the  people  at  that 
election. 

Mr.  Borgman  has  also  made  considerable  progress  as  a  merchant,  hav 
ing  established,  in  connection  with  Mr.  Ling,  a  large  book,  music  and 
musical  instrument  store,  on  Monroe  avenue,  corner  of  Randolph  street, 
Detroit,  Michigan. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  391 

Thus,  in  loss  and  disgrace,  ended  the  effort  to  wrest  Fort 
Mackinaw,  and  the  island  upon  which  it  stands,  from  the  English. 
When  the  fleet  first  appeared  off  Lighthouse  Point,  there  was 
but  a  single  company  of  troops  in  the  fort,  and  but  few,  if  any, 
Indian  auxiliaries  upon  the  island ;  and,  had  Colonel  Croghan  at 
once  demanded  a  surrender,  instead  of  at  first  going  to  St. 
Joseph's,  the  post  would  doubtless  have  passed  back  into  the 
hands  of  the  Americans  without  bloodshed,  and  with  as  little 
parley  as,  two  years  before,  it  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the 
English.  Or,  had  a  prompt  and  willing  surrender  been  refused, 
a  vigorous  attack  must  have  quickly  reduced  it,  as  the  American 
force  was  greatly  superior  to  the  English.  But  the  delay  was 
pregnant  with  disaster  and  disgrace. 

Having  failed  in  the  reduction  of  Fort  Mackinaw,  which  Sin 
clair  denominated  a  perfect  Gibraltar,  measures  were  now  taken 
to  starve  it  into  submission,  by  cutting  off  its  supplies.  The 
troops,  with  the  exception  of  three  companies,  were  dispatched 
in  two  vessels,  to  join  General  Brown  on  the  Niagara,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  squadron,  a  pilot  having  been  now  secured, 
directed  its  course  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  to  break  up  any 
establishments  which  the  enemy  might  have  in  that  quarter. 
While  the  Americans  were  masters  of  Lake  Erie,  there  were 
only  two  practicable  lines  of  communication  between  the  remote 
garrison  of  Fort  Mackinaw  and  the  lower  country.  The  first 
of  these  was  with  Montreal  by  way  of  the  Ottawa,  Lake  Nip- 
pising  and  French  river ;  and  the  second  with  York,  by  means 
of  Lake  Simcoe  and  the  Nautauwasaga  river.  Having  learned 
that  the  first  of  these  communications  was  impracticable  at  that 
season  of  the  year,  on  account  of  the  marshy  state  of  the  port 
ages,  they  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Nautauwasaga,  in  hopes 
of  finding  the  enemy's  schooner  Nancy,  which  was  thought  to  be 
in  that  quarter. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  August,  the  fleet  anchored  off  the  mouth 
of  that  river,  and  the  troops  were  quickly  disembarked,  for  the 
purpose  of  fixing  a  camp  on  the  peninsula  formed  by  the  river 
and  the  lake.  On  reconnoitering  the  position,  the  schooner  was 
discovered  in  the  river,  a  few  hundred  yards  above,  under  cover 


392  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

of  a  block-house,  erected  on  a  commanding  situation,  on  the 
opposite  shore.  On  the  following  morning,  a  fire  was  opened  by 
the  shipping  upon  the  block-house,  but  with  little  effect,  owing  to 
a  thin  wood,  which  intervened  and  obscured  the  view.  But,  about 
twelve  o'clock,  two  howitzers  were  landed ;  and,  being  placed 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  block-house,  commenced  throw 
ing  shells.  In  a  few  minutes,  one  of  these  shells  burst  in  the 
block-house,  and,  shortly  after,  blew  up  the  magazine,  allowing  the 
enemy  scarcely  time  to  escape.  The  explosion  of  the  magazine 
set  fire  to  a  train,  which  had  been  laid  for  the  destruction  of  the 
vessel,  and  in  a  few  minutes  she  was  enveloped  in  flames  ;  and  her 
valuable  cargo,  consisting  of  several  hundred  barrels  of  provi 
sions,  intended  as  a  six  months  supply  for  the  garrison  at  Macki 
naw,  was  entirely  consumed. 

Colonel  Croghan  did  not  think  it  advisable  to  fortify  and  gar 
rison  Nautauwasaga,  because  the  communication  with  York  was 
so  short  and  convenient,  that  any  force  left  there  might  be  easily 
cut  off  during  the  winter ;  hence,  Sinclair  left  the  Tigress  and 
Scorpion  to  blockade  it  closely,  until  the  season  should  become  too 
boisterous  for  boat  transportation,  and  the  remainder  of  the  squad 
ron  returned  to  Detroit.  But  this  blockade,  which,  had  it  been 
properly  enforced,  must  speedily  have  made  a  bloodless  conquest 
of  Mackinaw,  was  soon  brought  to  an  end  by  the  capture  of  both 
these  schooners.  After  the  destruction  of  the  Nancy,  her  cap 
tain,  with  several  of  his  men,  at  once  repaired  to  Fort  Mackinaw, 
to  communicate  the  news  of  the  loss  to  Colonel  McDonall,  and 
the  little  garrison  under  his  command.  Under  the  circumstances, 
it  was  unwelcome  news,  indeed.  Provisions  were  already  getting 
low;  a  single  loaf  of  bread  was  worth  one  dollar  and  a  half;  the 
men  were  subsisting  on  half  rations,  and  had  already  been 
reduced  to  the  necessity  of  killing  several  horses,  to  ward  off 
starvation.  And,  worse  than  all,  a  long  and  dreary  winter  was 
near  at  hand,  portending  nothing  but  death  from  starvation. 

Something  must  be  done ;  and,  accordingly,  an  expedition  was 
at  once  fitted  out  by  Colonel  McDonall,  consisting  of  a  force  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  sailors  and  soldiers,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty 
Indians,  in  open  boats,  to  break  the  blockade,  if  possible.  The 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  393 

Tigress,  which  for  several  days  had  been  separated  from  the 
Scorpion,  was  surprised  and  boarded  during  the  night  of  Septem 
ber  third,  it  being  very  dark ;  and,  after  a  desperate  hand-to-hand 
struggle,  in  which  some  were  killed  and  several  wounded,  was 
captured.  During  the  contest,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the 
Americans  to  destroy  the  signal-book,  but,  unfortunately,  without 
success ;  and,  by  the  aid  of  this  book,  the  Tigress,  now  manned 
by  English  officers  and  men,  surprised  and  captured  the  Scor 
pion,  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth,  at  the  dawn  of  day.  This 
was  a  finishing  stroke  to  the  ill-fated  enterprise,  and  Mackinaw 
was  left  secure  in  the  hands  of  the  English,  until  peace  was 
declared,  which  took  place  in  the  following  winter ;  and,  in  the 
spring  of  1815,  the  British  troops  evacuated  the  post,  and  a  com 
pany  of  American  soldiers,  under  Colonel  Chambers,  took  pos 
session  of  i-t. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


THE  ORDINANCE  OF  1787 — ERECTION  OF  THE  TERRITORY  OF  MICHIGAN 
— ITS  BOUNDARY  —  JUDICIAL  ADMINISTRATION  —  THE  WOODWARD 
CODE  OF  LAWS— GOVERNOR  HULL  —  His  TRIAL  BY  COURT-MAR 
TIAL. 

WE  WILL  now  turn  from  scenes  of  warfare,  and  notice  more 
particularly  the  political  history  of  Michigan.  Under  the  French 
and  British  dominion,  the  points  occupied,  on  the  eastern  bound 
ary  of  what  now  constitutes  the  State  of  Michigan,  were  con 
sidered  a  part  of  New  France,  or  Canada.  Detroit  was  known 
to  the  French  as  Fort  Pontchartrain.  The  military  commandant, 
under  both  governments,  exercised  a  civil  jurisdiction  over  the  set 
tlements  surrounding  their  posts.  When  possession  was  yielded 
to  the  United  States,  in  the  year  1796,  the  British  garrisons  at 
Detroit  and  Michilimackinac  were  replaced  by  detachments,  by 
General  Wayne,  and  Michigan  became  a  part  of  the  Northwest 
ern  Territory.  That  Territory  was  then  in  the  first  stage  of  gov 
ernment,  prescribed  by  the  ordinance  of  1787.  Arthur  St.  Clair 
was  its  Governor  ;  and  he  was,  therefore,  the  first  American  chief 
magistrate  under  whom  Michigan  was  placed.  In  the  year  1798, 
the  Northwestern  Territory  assumed  what  was  called  the  second 
grade  of  Territorial  government.  The  county  of  Wayne,  then 
coextensive  with  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  as  afterwards  estab 
lished,  sent  one  representative  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Northwestern  Territory,  held  at  Chillicothe,  whose  election  gave 
the  first  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  the  right  of  suffrage  in  this 
county. 

In  the  year  1800,  Indiana  was  established  as  a  separate  Terri 
tory,  embracing  all  the  country  lying  west  of  the  present  State  of 
Ohio,  and  of  an  extension  of  the  western  line  of  that  State  due 
north  to  the  Territorial  limits  of  the  United  States.  In  the  year 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


395 


1802,  the  peninsula  was  annexed  to  the  Territory  of  Indiana,  by 
the  same  act  of  Congress  which  authorized  the  formation  into  a 
State  of  that  part  of  the  Northwestern  Territory  which  now  con 
stitutes  Ohio. 


HON.  A.  B.  TURNER. 

AARON  B.  TURNER  was  born  in  1822,  at  Plattsburgh,  N.  Y.,  whence 
his  father,  Isaac  Turner,  moved  his  family  to  Grand  Rapids  in  the  spring 
of  1836.  He  commenced  type-setting  in  the  office  of  the  Grand  River 
Times,  the  first  paper  published  at  Grand  Rapids,  in  the  winter  of  1838. 
December  25,  1844,  he  commenced  the  publication  of  the  Grand  Rapids 
Eagle  (at  first  called  the  Grand  River  Eagle),  and  has  continued  it  ever 
since,  a  period  of  twenty-nine  consecutive  years.  He  started  the  Daily 
Eagle  May  26th,  1856.  Since  1865  he  has  had  as  a  business  partner  Eli 
F.  Harrington,  a  brother-in-law.  As  founder  of  the  Eagle,  continuous 
publisher  and  owner,  still  retaining  control  as  principal  proprietor,  Mr. 


396  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

In  the  year  1805,  Michigan  commenced  its  separate  existence. 
That  part  of  the  Territory  which  lies  east  of  a  north  and  south 
line  drawn  through  the  middle  of  Lake  Michigan,  was  formed 
into  a  distinct  government  by  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in  that 
year.  The  provisions  of  the  ordinance  of  1787  continued  to  regu 
late  the  form  of  government.  That  ordinance  wisely  provided 
for  the  establishment  of  those  fundamental  principles  of  law 
which  are  regarded  as"  the  best  securities  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  and  political  equality,  and  was  marked  in  its  provisions 
and  its  tone  by  prudence,  discretion  and  humanity.  The  prohibi 
tion  of  slavery  wThich  it  contained  may  have  saved  the  country 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  from  an  incalculable  evil.  Under  this 
constitution,  granted  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  country  northwest 
of  the  Ohio,  the  executive  power  was  vested  in  a  governor ;  the 
judicial  in  three  judges  ;  and  the  legislative  in  both  united.  The 
officers  were  appointed  by  the  general  government;  their  legis 
lative  authority  was  restricted  to  the  adoption  of  laws  from  codes 
of  the  several  States.  This  was  the  form  of  government  provided 
until  the  Territory  should  contain  five  thousand  free  white  males 
of  full  age ;  and  it  then  became  optional  with  the  people  to 
choose  a  legislative  body  among  themselves;  to  be  supported, 
however,  at  their  own  proper  cost.  Subsequent  legislation  of 
Congress  was  more  liberal,  as  well  in  providing  a  legislature 

Turner  may  be  styled  "the  veteran  journalist "  of  Michigan.  A  pioneer 
in  the  Grand  Eiver  valley,  and  struggling  with  the  slow  growth  and 
limited  means  of  pioneer  life,  during  what  were  called  the  "  hard  times," 
he  has  built  up  an  extensive  and  prospering  printing  house,  keeping  pace 
with  the  growth  of  Western  Michigan,  his  newspaper  ranking  with  the 
leading  press  of  the  State.  From  a  small  beginning,  he  has  acquired  a 
handsome  property  and  profitable  business  interests. 

Mr.  Turner  has  had  considerable  experience  in  public  life— as  city 
clerk,  as  assistant  clerk  of  the  House  in  the  Legislature,  and  as  secretary 
of  the  Michigan  Senate  in  1859  and  1861 ;  was  appointed  by  President 
Lincoln  collector  of  internal  revenue  for  the  fourth  collection  district, 
organizing  that  service  and  serving  four  years;  was  appointed  postmaster 
of  Grand  Rapids  by  President  Grant  in  April,  1869,  and  reappointed  in 
1873.  He  is  yet  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood,  and  ranks  among  the 
successful  men  of  Western  Michigan. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  397 

upon  better  principles,  at  the  expense  of  the  United  States,  as 
in  the  footing  upon  which  it  placed  the  elective  franchise  and 
eligibility  to  office.  Under  the  ordinance,  a  freehold  qualification 
was  required,  both  on  the  part  of  the  elector,  and  to  render  an 
individual  eligible  to  the  General  Assembly,  which  was,  under 
certain  circumstances,  provided  for. 

In  1818,  upon  the  admission  of  Illinois  into  the  Union,  all  the 
territory  lying  north  of  that  State  and  of  Indiana  was  annexed 
to  Michigan.  From  1805,  when  the  Territory  was  erected,  to 
1819,  our  political  condition  was,  in  every  respect,  that  prescribed 
by  the  ordinance  of  1787.  By  an  act  passed  in  the  latter  year, 
the  Territory  was  authorized  to  elect  a  delegate  to  Congress. 
Under  the  ordinance,  the  privilege  only  accrued  to  a  Territory 
when  it  should  have  entered  upon  the  second  grade  of  govern 
ment,  and  the  delegate  was  then  to  be  chosen  by  the  General 
Assembly.  By  the  act  referred  to,  the  power  was  given  direct  to 
the  people,  and  the  right  of  suffrage  was  extended  to  all  taxable 
citizens.  In  the  year  1823,  the  form  of  the  Territorial  govern 
ment  was  essentially  changed  by  an  act  of  Congress,  which  abro 
gated  the  legislative  power  of  the  governor  and  judges,  and 
granted  more  enlarged  ones  to  a  council,  to  be  composed  of  nine 
persons,  selected  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  from 
eighteen  chosen  by  the  electors  of  the  Territory.  By  this  law, 
eligibility  to  office  was  made  coextensive  with  the  right  of  suffrage 
as  established  by  the  act  of  1819.  The  limitation  of  the  tenure 
of  the  judicial  office  to  a  term  of  four  years,  is  another  important 
feature  of  the  act  of  1823. 

In  the  year  1825,  all  county  officers,  with  the  exception  of  those 
of  a  judicial  character,  or  whose  functions  connected  them  with 
the  administration  of  justice,  were  made  elective ;  and  the  appoint 
ments  which  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  executive  were  made 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  legislative  council.  In  1827,  the 
electors  of  the  Territory  were  authorized  to  choose  a  number  of 
persons,  corresponding  with  that  at  which  the  members  of  the 
council  was  fixed,  and  their  election  made  absolute.  This,  indeed, 
was  the  last  form  of  the  Territorial  government  of  Michigan — 
certainly  a  liberal  one  to  be  maintained  by  the  parent  State.  The 


398  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

legislative  council  was  empowered  to  enact  all  laws  not  incon 
sistent  with  the  ordinance  of  1787;  their  acts,  however,  were 
subject  to  be  annulled  by  Congress,  and  to  the  absolute  veto  of  the 
Executive  of  the  Territory. 

General  Hull  was  the  first  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Michi 
gan.  When  he  arrived  at  Detroit  to  assume  his  official  duties, 
he  found  the  town  in  ruins,  it  having  been  destroyed  by  fire. 
Whether  this  disaster  had  been  occasioned  by  accident  or  design 
was  not  known.  However  this  may  have  been,  as  the  town  was 
very  compact,  covering  only  two  acres  of  ground,  and  the  mate 
rials  were  of  the  most  combustible  character,  it  was  soon  entirely 
consumed,  and  the  unfortunate  inhabitants  were  obliged  to  encamp 
in  the  open  fields,  almost  destitute  of  food  and  shelter.  Still, 
they  were  not  discouraged,  and  soon  commenced  rebuilding  their 
houses  on  the  same  site.  The  general  government  also  took  their 
case  into  consideration,  and  an  act  of  Congress  was  passed,  grant 
ing  to  the  sufferers  the  site  of  the  old  town  of  Detroit,  and  ten 
thousand  acres  of  land  adjoining. 

As  before  mentioned,  a  judiciary  system  was  now  established, 
and  the  Territorial  militia  organized.  In  October  of  the  same 
year,  a  report  was  made  to  Congress  of  the  condition  of  the  Ter 
ritory  ;  and  in  May  of  the  following  year  a  code  of  laws  was 
adopted  similar  to  those  of  the  original  States.  This  code  wras 
signed  by  Governor  Hull,  Augustus  B.  Woodward,  and  Frederick 
Bates,  Judges  of  the  Territory,  and  was  called  the  "  Woodward 
Code."  The  bounds  of  the  Territorial  government,  as  then  estab 
lished,  embraced  all  the  country  on  the  American  side  of  the 
Detroit  river,  east  of  a  north  and  south  line  drawn  through  the 
center  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  Indian  land  claims  had  been  par 
tially  extinguished  previous  to  this  period.  By  the  treaty  of  Fort 
Mclntosh,  in  1785,  and  that  of  Fort  Harmer,  in  1787,  extensive 
cessions  had  either  been  made  or  confirmed,  and,  in  the  year  1807, 
the  Indian  titles  to  several  tracts  became  entirely  extinct.  In 
consequence  of  the  settlements  which  had  been  made  under  the 
French  and  English  governments,  some  confusion  sprang  up  in 
regard  to  the  titles  to  valuable  tracts  that  were  claimed  by  differ 
ent  individuals,  under  the  French  laws.  Congress,  accordingly, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


399 


passed  an  act  establishing  a  board  of  commissioners,  to  examine 
and  settle  these  conflicting  claims ;  and,  in  1807,  another  act  was 
passed,  confirming,  to  a  certain  extent,  the  titles  of  all  such  as 
had  been  in  possession  of  the  lands  then  occupied  by  them  from 


PEAR  TREES  IN  THE  OLD  JESUIT  GARDEN. 

the  year  1796,  when  the  Territory  was  surrendered,  up  to  the 
date  of  that  act.  Other  acts  were  subsequently  passed,  extending 
the  same  conditions  to  the  settlements  on  the  upper  lakes. 

In  addition  to  the  settlements  along  the  shores  of  the  Detroit 
and  St.  Clair  rivers,  and  the  lake  of  the  latter  name,  where  there 


400  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

was  a  continued  line  of  cottages,  with  farms  adjoining,  containing 
orchards  of  pear  and  apple  trees,  planted  at  an  early  date,  and 
the  old  posts  on  the  island  of  Mackinaw,  at  Ste.  Marie,  and  at  St. 
Joseph,  the  French  colonists  had  a  line  of  cabins  on  the  Kiver 
Raisin,  where  the  city  of  Monroe  now  stands.  The  interior  of  the 
country  was  but  little  known,  except  by  those  who  were  engaged 
in  the  fur  trade,  and  these  were  interested  in  representing  it  in  as 
unfavorable  a  light  as  possible.  No  portion  of  the  public  domain 
had  yet  been  brought  into  the  market.  But  few  American  set 
tlers  had,  therefore,  ventured  into  this  region,  though  the  adjoin 
ing  State  of  Ohio  had  already  acquired  a  considerable  population. 
Such  was  the  condition  of  Michigan  just  before  the  Tecumseh 
war,  a  full  account  of  which  is  given  in  a  previous  chapter. 

After  this  contest,  Michigan  emerged  into  a  new  existence. 
Colonel  Cass,  who  had  served  with  much  zeal  during  the  war,  was 
appointed  Governor  of  the  Territory ;  and  under  his  administra 
tion  it  gradually  advanced  in  prosperity. 

But  we  must  not  enter  upon  the  successful  administration  of 
Governor  Cass,  without  following  General  Hull,  the  first  Governor 
of  the  Territory,  a  little  further.  In  our  last  mention  of  him,  he 
was  being  conveyed  to  Montreal,  a  prisoner  of  war.  We  next 
find  him  before  a  court-martial,  at  Albany,  New  York.  The 
court  convened  January  3d,  1814,  with  a  full  board,  and  General 
Dearborn  was  the  President.  No  objection  was  taken  to  the  con 
stitution  of  this  court  by  the  accused.  The  session  of  the  court 
was  protracted,  and  every  facility  afforded  to  General  Hull  to 
present  his  defense.  The  Judge- Advocate,  Mr.  Van  Buren,  was 
remarkably  fair  and  impartial  in  conducting  the  examination. 
The  charges  were  three  in  number :  treason,  cowardice,  and  neglect 
of  duty.  The  court  acquitted  the  accused  of  the  high  crime  of 
treason.  As  to  the  other  charges,  the  court,  upon  mature  deliber 
ation,  found  General  Hull  guilty,  and  sentenced  him  to  be  shot  ; 
but,  by  reason  of  his  services  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  and 
his  advanced  age,  earnestly  recommended  him  to  the  mercy  of  the 
President.  The  President  approved  of  the  finding  of  the  court, 
but  remitted  the  execution  of  the  sentence,  and  dismissed  him  from 
the  service. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  401 

The  civil  administration  of  Governor  Hull  presents  but  few 
salient  points.  His  military  administration,  ending,  as  it  did,  by 
the  ignominious  surrender  of  Detroit  to  a  British  force  far  inferior 
to  his  own,  was  fraught  with  irretrievable  ruin  to  himself,  as  well 
as  temporary  disgrace  to  the  American  arms. 

What  was  the  actual  moving  cause  of  this  disgraceful  capitula 
tion  will  probably  never  be  known,  till  the  final  day.  Time,  how 
ever,  has  somewhat  softened  the  harsh  judgment  which  was  passed 
upon  him  at  the  time ;  and  some  of  the  earlier  impressions,  which 
attributed  his  conduct  to  money,  the  price  of  treason,  have  been 
removed.  But  the  most  that  charity  can  do  is  to  attribute  it  to 
cowardice  and  imbecility.  Efforts  have,  from  time  to  time,  been 
made  to  rescue  his  name  from  obloquy  ;  but  such  efforts  have  uni 
versally  proved  failures.  It  is  enough  for  an  American  to  know 
that  he  surrendered  his  command  to  a  force  of  less  than  one-third 
his  own  strength.  General  Hull's  principal  excuse  was,  that  he 
was  short  of  ammunition  and  provisions.  He  does  not  allege  that 
he  was  destitute — the  contrary  was  well  known  to  be  the  case — 
but  that  he  apprehended  that  he  had  not  enough  to  last  till  the 
final  issue  of  the  campaign.  But  this,  instead  of  being  an  excuse 
for  an  unconditional  surrender,  was  the  stronger  reason  for 
promptitude  and  energy.  After  ammunition  and  provisions  fail, 
the  worst  disaster  that  can  befall  an  army  is  that  which  he  forced 
upon  his  command  before  a  blow  was  struck. 

The  situation  was  briefly  this  :  He  had  been  instructed  to  pro 
tect  Detroit.  The  invasion  of  Canada  was  left  discretionary  with 
him.  He  did  neither.  It  is  true  he  crossed  the  river,  but  only 
to  make  a  disgraceful  retreat.  When  followed,  and  summoned  to 
surrender,  he  complied  with  the  demand ;  only  holding  out  long 
enough  to  increase  the  pomposity  of  the  enemy,  and  provoke  the 
curses  of  his  command.  His  flight  commenced  at  the  bridge  of 
the  Canards,  and  terminated  in  the  American  fortress.  His 
retreat  was  without  a  reason,  and  his  surrender  without  a  parallel. 

Nothing  but  the  memory  of  other  and  prouder  days,  and  gal 
lant  deeds,  can  rescue  the  name  of  Hull  from  unmitigated  con 
tempt  ;  and  the  kindest  judgment  which  a  dispassionate  posterity 
can  pronounce  upon  him  is  to  ascribe  his  errors  to  cowardice  and 
imbecility. 

26 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


GENERAL  CASS  APPOINTED  GOVERNOR  —  DEFENSELESS  CONDITION  OF 
THE  TERRITORY — INDIAN  DEPREDATIONS  AROUND  DETROIT — BRAV 
ERY  AND  ENERGY  OF  GENERAL  CASS — His  TREATY  WITH  THE  INDIANS 
— CONDITION  OF  MICHIGAN  AT  THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  WAR — EXPEDITION 
OF  GENERAL  CASS  TO  THE  UPPER  PENINSULA — DISCOVERIES— PROS 
PERITY  OF  THE  TERRITORY  UNDER  CASS'  ADMINISTRATION— THE 
TREATY  OF  CHICAGO— EXECUTION  OF  INDIANS. 

A  NEW  era  now  dawned  upon  the  Territory  of  Michigan.  Gen 
eral  Lewis  Cass,  who  had  served,  with  great  credit  and  distinc 
tion,  through  the  war  of  1812,  was  appointed  Governor  of  the 
Territory.  At  that  time  its  prosperity  and  advancement  may  be 
said  to  have  commenced.  Up  to  this  time,  there  had  been  no 
inducement  whatever  for  the  immigration  of  people  from  the 
Eastern  States.  The  country  had  just  emerged  from  a  bloody 
and  devastating  war,  and  the  public  lands  had  not  been  brought 
into  market.  The  beautiful  and  fertile  lands  of  the  lower  penin 
sula,  now  studded  with  happy  homes  and  nourishing  cities,  and 
traversed  in  every  direction  by  the  locomotive,  were  traversed 
only  by  wild  beasts,  and  wilder  men.  The  streams,  now  white 
with  the  sails  of  noble  ships,  and  dotted  with  manufactories,  were 
navigated  only  by  the  bark  canoe.  The  feeble  settlements  along 
the  frontier  had  been  converted  into  scenes  of  desolation ;  not  a 
road  had  been  constructed  through  the  interior ;  and  there  was  no 
means  of  access  to  the  country  except  by  the  rivers  and  lakes,  and 
the  military  road  along  the  Detroit  river.  The  British  garrisons 
were  broken  up,  it  is  true,  and  Tecumseh  was  no  more,  but  the 
people  were  by  no  means  free  from  the  calamities  of  war.  The 
ill  feeling  of  the  Indians  continued  unsubdued,  and  their  pro 
pensities  to  murder,  rob  and  plunder,  were  still  as  great  as  when 
Tecumseh  led  them  to  battle.  The  British  flag  still  waved  over 
Mackinaw,  and  the  intermediate  country  was  filled  with  fur- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


403 


traders  who  regarded  their  interests  as  antagonistic  to  the  United 
States. 

At  this  time,  it  must  be  remarked,  all  of  the  province  of  Can 
ada  which  had  been  held  in  submission  by  the  British  army,  was 


ISAAC   NEWTON   SWAIN. 

ISAAC  NEWTON  SWAIN,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneer  settlers  of  the  inte 
rior  and  western  parts  of  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan,  was  born 
near  Sackett's  Harbor,  in  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  November  20th, 


404  GENERAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

now  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Governor  of  Michigan,  and  upon 
him  rested  the  responsibility  of  protecting  the  rights  of  the  people 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  in  common  with  the  citizens  upon  the 
west  side.  How  long  the  war  would  continue,  or  how  it  would 
end,  or  whether  Canada  would  eventually  become  a  part  and  par 
cel  of  Michigan,  no  one  could  tell.  But  it  was  sufficiently 
obvious  to  the  mind  of  General  Cass  that  the  peninsula  of  Michi 
gan,  at  least,  was  to  remain  under  the  Stars  and  Stripes ;  and  he 
set  himself  to  work,  with  great  wisdom  and  industry,  to  provide 
for  the  future  welfare  of  the  people  intrusted  to  his  charge.  In 
order  to  do  this  effectually,  it  wras  first  necessary  to  inspire  the 
people  with  confidence  in  their  personal  safety,  and  to  assure  them 
that  their  property  was  protected  by  the  sleepless  vigilance  of  the 
law.  His  first  act  was  to  tender  his  resignation  as  brigadier-gen 
eral  in  the  army,  believing  that  such  extensive  civil  and  military 
powers  should  not  be  vested  in  the  same  person.  His  resignation 
was  accepted,  with  the  proviso  that  he  should,  in  his  capacity  as 
Governor,  take  charge  of  the  defenses  of  the  Territory. 

The  seat  of  war  at  this  time  having  been  transferred  to  the 
East,  Michigan  was  left  with  only  a  company  of  twenty-seven  sol 
diers  for  her  defense.  With  this  feeble  force,  and  the  local  militia, 
the  Governor  was  required  to  defend  the  Territory  against  the 

1807.  He  yet  distinctly  remembers  hearing  the  reports  of  the  first 
guns  fired  in  our  second  war  with  England  in  1812.  His  home  was  the 
scene  of  some  of  the  most  exciting  events  of  that  final  contest  with 
Britain,  and  he  thus  early  imbibed  indelible  hostility  to  the  "  red  coats," 
notwithstanding  both  sides  of  his  ancestry,  being  of  the  Quaker  order, 
came  early  from  the  south  of  England.  They  were  numbered  among 
the  first  settlers  of  Rhode  Island  and  Nantucket. 

When  only  nine  years  old,  his  parents  and  their  family  of  five  children, 
of  whom  he  was  the  youngest,  removed  and  settled  on  the  "  Holland 
Purchase"  (so  called),  in  western  JSTew  York,  now  Royalton,  in  Niagara 
county.  This  was  several  years  before  the  existence  of  the  Erie  canal, 
and  at  a  period  when  the  products  of  the  settlers  had  scarcely  any  cash 
value.  Money  was  a  great  rarity  among  the  people  there,  in  those  days, 
and  when  an  occasional  shilling  was  discovered  in  the  neighborhood,  its 
possessor  at  once  became  an  object  of  considerable  attention. 

Such  was  the  condition  and  customs  of  the  infant  settlement  in  which 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  405 

bands  of  hostile   Indians  who  were  constantly  hovering  around 
Detroit. 

It  was  at  this  time,  when  Detroit  was  thus  exposed,  that  a  war 
party  of  savages  issued  from  the  dense  forests  which  skirted  the 
town,  and  marked  their  irruption  by  one  of  those  deeds  of  blood 
which  have  made  the  early  history  of  Michigan  a  record  of  trials, 
sufferings  and  hardships  without  a  parallel  in  the  annals  of  fron 
tier  life.  The  strength  of  the  party  was  not  great,  as  it  after 
wards  appeared,  but,  as  it  was  unknown,  the  excitement  and  alarm 
of  the  inhabitants  were  intense.  But  Governor  Cass  was  equal 
to  the  emergency,  and  in  a  short  time  rallied  his  undisciplined 
troops,  pursued  the  savages  to  their  native  haunts,  and,  after  a 
sharp  and  bloody  conflict,  returned  to  Detroit  victorious.  It  is 
within  the  memory  of  men  now  living,  how  the  people  of  the  town 
were  terrified,  upon  the  return  of  the  victorious  band,  by  the 
scalp  halloa  that  was  raised  by  some  friendly  Indians,  to  indicate 
the  victory  of  the  party.  The  horrid  sound,  which  has  curdled 
the  blood  of  the  stoutest  hearts  in  many  a  lonely  cabin  in  the 
wilderness,  and  tells  the  tale  of  blood  before  the  gory  trophies  are 
exhibited,  broke  the  silence  of  the  evening  air.  The  helpless 
women  and  children,  whose  husbands  and  fathers  had  gone  forth 
to  fight  in  their  defense,  had  no  means  of  knowing  whether  the 

Mr.  Swain  spent  the  largest  part  of  his  youth.  At  length,  however, 
roads  were  opened,  and  when  these  were  connected  and  made  passable, 
at  least,  by  "  bridges  built  by  the  frosts  of  winter,"  the  dense  forests  were 
awakened  by  occasional  teams.  A  few  loads  of  the  best  "  Genesee 
wheat  "  were  transported  from  that  "  far  off  western  country,"  and  carried 
more  than  fifty  miles  over  rough  and  troublesome  roads  to  a  small  ham 
let,  then  the  nearest  cash  market,  and  now  the  prosperous  city  of 
Eochester,  New  York.  There  this  grain  was  sold  at  twenty-five  to 
twenty-eight  cents  per  bushel,  and  added  very  considerably  to  the 
circulating  medium  of  the  pioneer  settlement.  The  erection  of  the  first 
school  house  in  the  settlement  is  an  event  not  easily  forgotten  by  Mr. 
Swain.  It  was  constructed  by  a  "bee,"  and  occupied  but  one  day  for 
its  completion.  This  is  the  more  surprising  since  the  building  was 
transformed  from  standing  trees  to  a  temple  of  science  in  this  short 
space  of  time.  The  "neighbors  all  turned  out,"  and  at  four  o'clock  in 
the  morning  the  sound  of  their  axes,  the  falling  of  heavy  trees,  and  the 


406  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

terrible  cry  came  from  friend  or  foe,  and,  in  their  uncertainty, 
many  of  them  fled  to  their  canoes,  and  took  refuge  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river.  Happily,  the  return  of  their  friends  removed 
their  fears,  and  secured  their  safety ;  and  their  return  was  as  joy 
ful  as  their  departure  had  been  precipitous. 

The  bravery  of  Governor  Cass  as  a  soldier,  fighting  the  bands 
of  hostile  Indians  which  surrounded  the  feeble  settlements  under 
his  charge,  was  only  equaled  by  his  wisdom  in  dealing  with  them 
in  times  of  peace.  He  was  at  this  time,  by  virtue  of  his  office 
of  Governor,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs,  and  as  such  it 
became  his  duty  to  advise  with  the  government  at  Washington  on 
that  subject.  He  had  long  been  under  the  impression  that  the 
only  proper  way  to  deal  with  the  Indians  was,  as  a  means  of  paci 
fication,  to  purchase  their  possessory  rights  to  the  lands  they  occu 
pied  ;  to  limit  their  hunting  grounds  to  a  narrow  compass ;  to 
teach  them  agriculture  and  mechanics,  and  provide  the  means  for 
their  instruction  and  religious  training.  The  policy  of  the  French 
and  English  had  been  to  pacify  them  with  presents  of  whisky 
and  gew-gaws,  merely  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  temporary 
foothold,  to  enable  them  to  carry  on  the  fur  trade.  This  policy, 
of  course,  brought  permanent  settlers  into  the  country,  and  those 
who  were  benefited  by  the  traffic  lived  thousands  of  miles  away, 

loud  driving  of  ox  teams,  indicated  that  something  unusual  had  taken 
possession  of  these  earnest  settlers.  The  heavy  logs  were  "switched" 
together  and  hewed.  Then  strong  arms  and  willing  hands  placed  them 
one  upon  another,  until  the  roof  was  made  whole.  The  floor  was  next 
"  dubbed"  off  so  as  to  be  agreeable  to  little  feet,  for  no  boards  could  be 
had  for  that  purpose,  and  this  exercise  completed  the  first  school  house 
in  that  district.  The  labor  of  the  day  being  over,  the  eager  inhabitants 
commenced  their  celebration.  Then  came  genuine  ladies,  real  women — 
pioneer  women — with  well  prepared  refreshments.  Rude  tables  were 
constructed,  and  a  wholesome  collation  spread  out  for  the  builders. 
When  the  appetite  had  been  satisfied,  the  floor  was  made  clear  and  danc 
ing  commenced,  which  continued  with  a  spirit  until  an  early  hour  the 
following  morning. 

It  was  in  this  "bee"  school  house  that  Mr.  Swain  received  his  ele 
mentary  education.  This,  however,  was  attended  with  its  disadvantages. 
Books  were  scarce  and  difficult  to  obtain.  For  the  winter's  use  of 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  407 

and  had  no  interest  in  the  permanent  development  of  the  country. 
It  was  clear  that  this  was  not  the  policy  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  President  heartily  coincided  in  the  views  expressed  by  General 
Cass.  The  result  was  that  General  Cass  and  General  Harrison 
were  intrusted  with  the  power  to  treat  with  the  Indians  on  the 
Miami  and  Wabash,  and,  on  the  twentieth  of  July,  a  treaty  was 
signed  with  the  Wyandots,  Senecas,  Shawnees,  Miamis  and  Dela- 
wares,  which  restored  comparative  tranquillity  to  the  frontiers. 

At  one  time,  during  this  summer,  it  became  necessary  for  Gen 
eral  Cass  to  send  troops  down  the  lake,  to  the  assistance  of  General 
Brown,  on  the  Niagara  ;  and  he  ordered  his  whole  force  to  repair 
to  the  seat  of  war,  reserving  only  thirty  men  for  the  defense  of  the 
fort  at  Maiden.  During  this  defenseless  state,  the  hostile  Indians 
became  bolder.  Their  war  parties  roamed  the  country,  and 
caused  much  alarm  and  apprehension  ;  and  the  Governor  found 
it  necessary  to  call  the  whole  adult  male  population  to  arms. 
Scouting  parties  were  sent  out  in  all  directions,  and  many  skir 
mishes  occurred.  The  Governor  frequently  headed  these  parties 
in  person,  and  the  hostile  tribes  were  driven  from  place  to  place, 
until,  finally,  they  retreated  to  Saginaw. 

In  July  of  this  year  an  attempt  was  made  to  recover  Mackinaw. 
A  force  was  detailed,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Croghan,  for 

Pike's  arithmetic,  he  dug  potatoes  two  days,  and  he  husked  corn  four 
days  for  a  slate. 

After  graduating  in  this  "bee"  institution,  Mr.  Swain's  ambition  for 
further  knowledge  was  largely  increased.  He  often  walked  forty-three 
miles  in  a  day,  to  and  from  the  nearest  academy,  teaching  school  in  the 
winter  season,  to  bear  his  academic  expenses  in  the  summer.  Through 
all  these  obstacles,  he  displayed  that  matchless  energy  characteristic  of 
his  life,  and  obtained  an  ample  education. 

When  the  Erie  canal  was  completed,  a  new  era  dawned  upon  western 
New  York.  A  market  and  highway  for  commerce  were  opened,  reveal 
ing  richer  fields  in  the  great  West,  which  he  visited,  and,  early  in 
the  year  1830,  he  settled  permanently  in  Michigan,  to  share  its  pioneer 
hardships,  and  aid  in  developing  its  great  resources.  In  the  former 
he  has  taken  a  front  rank  position,  while  in  the  latter  ^he  has  but  few 
compeers. 

His  first  earnings  were  invested  in  land  situated  near  the  Kalamazoo 


408  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

this  purpose,  with  the  assistance  of  a  part  of  the  fleet  on  Lake 
Erie.  But  the  British  works  were  too  strong,  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  savages,  they  were  enabled  to  hold  possession. 
The  establishments  at  St.  Joseph's  and  at  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  how 
ever,  were  destroyed. 

In  the  winter  of  1815,  the  treaty  of  peace  was  ratified  between 
England  and  the  United  States.  The  population  of  the  Territory 
at  that  time  was  not  over  five  or  six  thousand,  and  that  population 
was  spread  over  a  vast  extent,  and  in  a  state  of  great  destitution, 
owing  to  the  calamities  of  war.  Scarcely  a  family,  when  it 
resumed  its  domestic  establishment,  found  more  than  the  rem 
nants  of  former  wealth  and  comfort.  Families  had  been  broken 
up  and  dispersed ;  parents  had  been  torn  from  children,  and  chil 
dren  from  each  other ;  some  had  been  slain  on  the  battle  field, 
and  others  had  been  massacred  by  the  ruthless  savages.  Laws 
had  become  a  dead  letter,  and  morals  had  suffered  in  the  gen 
eral  wreck.  Agriculture  had  been  almost  abandoned,  and  com 
merce  •  paralyzed.  Food,  and  all  the  necessaries  of  life  were 
scarce,  and  luxuries  were  unknown.  Money  was  difficult  to  get, 
and  the  bank  paper  of  Ohio,  which  was  almost  the  sole  circulat 
ing  medium,  was  twenty-five  per  cent  below  par  in  New  York. 
Consequently  commercial  transactions  were  precluded,  except  at  a 
ruinous  figure  to  the  merchant  and  the  consumer. 

river,  in  the  southwest  part  of  Jackson  county.  He  added  to  the  orig 
inal  purchase,  as  he  acquired  means  by  farming,  surveying,  civil  engin 
eering,  merchandising,  milling,  lumbering,  etc.  His  labors  have  been 
eminently  successful,  not  only  in  accumulating  a  large  fortune,  but  in 
developing  the  resources  of  the  State. 

This  biography  might  very  justly  be  enlivened  by  a  recital  of 
Mr.  Swain's  many  adventures  in  the  pioneer  days  of  Michigan.  His 
conflicts  with  wild  beasts  and  wild  men,  are  filled  with  the  essence  of 
adventure;  the  hardships  he  has  endured  in  "camping  out"  and  travel 
ing  through  the  unexplored  forests,  are  replete  with  heroic  exploits,  with 
man  and  beast,  and  would  constitute  of  themselves  a  volume  full  of 
interest  and  instruction.  But  we  shall  pass  over  these,  and  briefly  notice 
the  results  of  his  industry. 

Having  failed  to  secure  the  Michigan  Central  ^Railroad  through  his 
place  of  business,  at  Concord,  by  a  distance  of  four  miles,  he  pulled  up 


410  GENEKAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

In  this  gloomy  and  unpromising  condition  was  Michigan  when 
General  Cass  assumed  the  office  of  Governor  of  the  Territory. 
Civil  government  was  yet  to  be  established,  and  laws  enacted  and 
enforced,  before  any  permanent  advancement  in  prosperity  could 
be  hoped  for.  His  task  was  a  delicate  and  difficult  one.  He  was 
not  only  a  part  of  the  legislative  power,  but  was  the  sole  execu 
tive.  The  laws  which  were  enacted  in  the  one  capacity,  he  was 
obliged  to  execute  in  the  other.  How  well  he  performed  his  task, 
the  condition  of  the  State  when  he  resigned  his  office,  after 
eighteen  years  of  service,  abundantly  testifies. 

In  1817,  General  Cass  made  a  most  important  treaty  with  the 
Indians,  by  which  their  title  was  extinguished  to  nearly  all  the 
land  in  Ohio,  a  part  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  a  portion  in  the 
State  of  Michigan.  This  was  not  only  the  most  valuable  treaty 
that  had  at  that  time  been  made  with  the  Indians,  but  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan.  It  attached  the 
isolated  population  of  Michigan  to  the  State  of  Ohio  ;  made  the 
Territorial  government,  in  a  fuller  sense,  an  integral  part  of  the 
Federal  Union,  and  removed  all  apprehension  of  a  hostile  con 
federacy  among  the  Indian  tribes  along  the  lake  and  river  frontier. 

Up  to  this  time  there  was  not  a  road  within  the  limits  of  the 
Territory,  save  the  military  road  along  the  Detroit  river.  But, 

and  went  still  farther  into  the  dense  forest,  down  the  Paw  Paw  valley, 
to  the  present  site  of  the  village  of  Watervleit,  in  Berrien  county,  thus 
endeavoring  to  make  a  certainty  of  locating  on  this  road.  The  State, 
which  at  that  time  owned  the  Michigan  Central  Eoad,  had  definitely 
located  its  route  through  this  valley,  with  a  view  of  making  the  western 
terminus  on  Lake  Michigan,  at  St.  Joseph.  But  these  plans  were  over 
ruled  by  various  circumstances.  The  State,  with  the  system  of  internal 
improvements  in  1847,  being  nearly  bankrupt,  and  the  Michigan  Central 
Railroad  being  completed  with  strap  rails  only  as  far  as  the  village  of 
Kalamazoo,  sold  her  franchise  to  the  present  Michigan  Central  Railroad 
Company.  This  company  departed  from  the  original  plan,  and  thereby 
left  Watervleit  oft*  twenty  miles  in  the  forest. 

Notwithstanding  these  obstacles,  Mr.  Swain  prosecuted  his  business 
enterprises  in  that  locality  with  unabated  energy.  At  Watervleit  he  con 
ducted  the  same  business  already  mentioned,  increasing  the .  lumbering 
branch  to  a  considerable  extent.  He  is  still  interested  in  the  latter  at  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  411 

now  that  the  Indian  settlements  and  lands  could  not  be  interposed 
as  a  barrier  to  the  undertaking,  General  Cass  resolved  to  bring 
the  attention  of  Congress  to  the  necessity  and  advantage  of  a 
military  road  from  Detroit  to  Sandusky.  He  pointed  out  the 
peculiar  political  and  pecuniary  advantages  of  such  an  under 
taking,  and  Congress  immediately  authorized  the  road  to  be  built 
over  the  route  indicated  ;  taking  in  its  course  what  was  known  as 
the  Black  Swamp,  then  a  trackless  morass  for  teams  and  wagons, 
but  now  one  of  the  most  fertile  regions  of  the  country. 

In  the  summer  of  this  year,  the  first  newspaper  published  in 
Michigan  was  started  at  Detroit.  It  was  called  the  Detroit 
Gazette,  and  was  published  by  Messrs.  Sheldon  &  Reed,  two 
enterprising  young  men,  who  for  many  years,  continued  its  publi 
cation. 

The  great  problem  which  then  occupied  the  minds  of  the  author 
ities  of  the  Territory  was  how  to  induce  a  flow  of  immigration 
from  the  East.  That  was,  indeed,  a  difficult  question  to  solve- 
much  more  so  than  we  can  fully  appreciate  at  this  day.  There 
were,  as  before  remarked,  no  roads  in  existence  leading  to  the 
interior  of  the  Territory ;  and  no  steamboats  as  yet  vexed  the 
placid  bosom  of  the  Detroit  river.  The  difficulty  was  greatly 
increased  by  a  false  impression  which  then  universally  prevailed 

same  place,  and  also  in  large  and  valuable  tracts  of  land  in  that  vicinity, 
and  he  is  now  doing  much  to  increase  the  value  of  real  estate  in  that 
section  of  Michigan. 

In  1861,  he  commenced,  under  his  own  supervision,  the  erection  of  his 
magnificent  residence  at  Riverside,  on  Fort  street,  near  Detroit.  This 
building  is  a  fitting  monument  to  its  projector.  Being  one  of  the  sub 
stantial  kind,  he  embodied  in  the  construction  of  this  residence  much 
that  indicates  his  most  prominent  characteristics.  It  is,  perhaps,  the 
most  elegantly  finished,  and  by  far  the  most  substantial  building  of  the 
kind  in  the  Northwest.  Its  basement  and  foundation  are,  in  themselves, 
wonderful  accomplishments,  and  from  the  floor  of  the  former  to  the 
deck  of  the  tower  is  a  distance  of  one  hundred  feet. 

At  the  top  of  this  tower,  which  is  easily  attained  by  a  most  magnifi 
cent  winding  stairway,  the  observer  has  one  of  the  grandest  views  of 
lake,  river  and  landscape  scenery  in  the  country.  The  head  of  Lake 
Erie  and  much  of  Lake  St.  Clair  are  made  plainly  visible,  with  the  most 


412  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

in  regard  to  the  character  of  the  soil  of  Michigan,  and  its  adapta 
bility  to  the  purposes  of  agriculture.  It  was  popularly  supposed 
to  be  the  very  home  of  disease  and  death,  uninhabited  and  unin 
habitable  ;  a  horrible  place  abounding  in  swamps,  marshes  and 
lagoons,  impenetrable  save  by  means  of  canoes.  Nor  were  these 
reports  without  high  official  authority  to  back  them,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following  facts : 

On  the  sixth  of  May,  1812,  Congress  passed  an  act,  requiring 
that  2,000,000  acres  of  land  should  be  surveyed  in  the  then  Terri 
tory  of  Louisiana,  and  a  like  quantity  in  the  Territory  of  Illinois, 
north  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  the  same  quantity  in  the  Territory 
of  Michigan,  in  all  6,000,000  acres,  to  be  set  apart  for  the  soldiers 
in  the  war  with  Great  Britain.  Each  soldier  was  to  have  160 
acres  of  land,  fit  for  cultivation.  The  lands  were  surveyed  and 
appropriated  under  this  law  in  Louisiana  and  Illinois,  but  the  sur 
veyors  reported  that  there  were  no  lands  in  Michigan  fit  for  culti 
vation.  The  following  is  that  portion  of  the  Surveyor-General's 
report  which  relates  to  the  lands  of  Michigan : 


"  The  country  on  the  Indian  boundary  line,  from  the  mouth  of 
the  great  Augiaize  river,  and  running  thence  for  about  fifty  miles, 

picturesque  surroundings  of  city  and  country.  His  grounds  surrounding 
the  residence  are  not  only  extensive,  but  rich  in  all  the  beauties  of  garden 
landscape. 

Mr.  Swain,  although  a  man  of  large  experience  and  no  small  literary 
attainments,  is  extremely  simple  in  his  manners,  making  himself  alike 
agreeable  with  men  in  business  circles,  or  in  entertaining  friends  at  his 
well  appointed  mansion. 

To  a  question  as  to  whether  or  not  he  had  ever  figured  in  politics,  Mr. 
Swain  stated  that  he  had  never  sought  office  but  once  in  his  life.  He 
admits  of  once  having  had  an  ambition  to  become  ''overseer  of  high 
ways,"  brought  on  by  the  deplorable  condition  of  certain  roads  in  which 
he  was  interested,  and  which  he  desired  to  improve.  On  this  occasion 
he  was  not  elected  for  want  of  votes,  and  although  more  than  a  third  of 
a  century  has  passed  since  this  defeat,  he  has  not  since  been  troubled 
with  an  appetite  for  office.  It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that  he  may 
have  intended  this  answer  as  indicating  his  disapproval  of  the  tricks  of 
modern  politics. 


HISTORY  OP  MICHIGAN, 


413 


is  (with  some  few  exceptions)  low,  wet  land,  with  a  very  thick 
growth  of  underbrush,  intermixed  with  very  bad  marshes,  but 
generally  very  heavily  timbered  with  beech,  cottonwood,  oak,  etc. ; 
thence  continuing  north,  and  extending  from  the  Indian  boundary 


AARON   DIKEMAN. 

AARON  DIKEMAN,  one  of  the  representative  pioneers  of  northwestern 
Michigan,  was  born  in  Norwalk,  Fairlield  county,  Connecticut,  January 
3,  1796. 

He  lived  in  his  native  town  until  reaching  his  majority,  when  he  emi 
grated  to  New  York  City,  and  embarked  in  the  jewelry  business.  He 
carried  on  this  business  in  that  city  for  twenty  years,  with  uninterrupted 
success. 

Closing  up  his  affairs  in  New  York,  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Grand  Rapids,  arriving  there  in  May,  1837.  Here 


414  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

eastward,  the  number  and  extent  of  the  swamps  increases,  with 
the  addition  of  numbers  of  lakes,  from  twenty  chains  to  two  and 
three  miles  across.  Many  of  the  lakes  have  extensive  marshes 
adjoining  their  margins,  sometimes  thickly  covered  with  a  species 
of  pine  called  '  tamarack/  and  other  places  covered  with  a  coarse, 
high  grass,  and  uniformly  covered  from  six  inches  to  three  feet 
(and  more  at  times)  with  water.  The  margins  of  these  lakes  are 
not  the  only  places  where  swamps  are  found,  for  they  are  inter 
spersed  throughout  the  whole  country,  and  filled  with  water,  as 
above  stated,  and  varying  in  extent.  The  intermediate  space 
between  these  swamps  and  lakes,  which  is  probably  near  one- 
half  of  the  country,  is  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  a  poor,  barren, 
sandy  land,  on  which  scarcely  any  vegetation  grows,  except  very 
small  scrubby  oaks.  In  many  places,  that  part  which  may  be 
called  dry  land  is  composed  of  little,  short  sand-hills,  forming  a 
kind  of  deep  basins,  the  bottoms  of  many  of  which  are  composed 
of  a  marsh  similar  to  the  above  described.  The  streams  are  gen 
erally  narrow,  and  very  deep,  compared  with  their  width,  the 
shores  and  bottoms  of  which  are  (with  a  very  few  exceptions) 

he  again  engaged  in  the  jewelry  business,  opening  the  first  establishment 
of  that  kind  in  the  State  north  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad.  Mr. 
Dikeman  continued  in  this  occupation  in  Grand  Rapids  until  1867,  and  dur 
ing  this  long  period  was  seldom  absent  a  day  from  his  bench.  During  this 
time  he  built  up  a  large  trade,  established  a  high  reputation  for  an  honest 
business  man,  and,  after  fifty  years  of  unremitting  toil,  he  retired  in 
May,  1867,  with  a  fair  fortune  and  hosts  of  friends  as  his  reward.  At 
the  time  of  his  retiring  he  was  the  oldest  jeweler  working  at  the  trade  in 
the  United  States,  being  seventy-one  years  of  age. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Dikeman  became  largely  interested  in  the  steamboat  navi 
gation  of  Grand  river.  In  that  year,  he  built  the  steamer  Empire,  and 
run  her  on  the  lower  river  line  between  Grand  Rapids  and  Grand  Haven. 

Mr.  Dikeman  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  Kent  county,  in  Novem 
ber,  1838,  and  the  abilities  with  which  he  performed  the  duties  of  that 
office  can  be  best  adduced  from  the  fact  that  he  held  it  for  three  succes 
sive  terms.  In  1849,  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  the  township  of  Grand 
Rapids,  which  then  included  the  village  of  Kent,  now  the  city  of  Grand 
Rapids.  He  was  chosen  alderman  of  the  third  ward  of  that  city  in 
in  1852,  and  his  public  life  closed  with  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office 
as  alderman. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  415 

swampy  beyond  description ;  and  it  is  with  the  utmost  difficulty 
that  a  place  can  be  found  over  which  horses  can  be  conveyed  in 
safety. 

"  A  circumstance  peculiar  to  that  country  is  exhibited  in  many 
of  the  marshes  by  their  being  thinly  covered  with  a  sward  of 
grass,  by  walking  on  which  evinced  the  existence  of  water,  or  a 
very  thin  mud  immediately  under  their  covering,  which  sinks  from 
six  to  eighteen  inches  from  the  pressure  of  the  foot  at  every  step, 
and  at  the  same  time  rising  before  and  behind  the  person  passing 
over.  The  margins  of  many  of  the  lakes  and  streams  are  in  a 
similar  situation,  and  in  many  places  are  literally  afloat.  On 
approaching  the  eastern  part  of  the  military  lands,  toward  the 
private  claims  on  the  straights  and  lake,  the  country  does  not  con 
tain  so  many  swamps  and  lakes,  but  the  extreme  sterility  and 
barrenness  of  the  soil  continues  the  same.  Taking  the  country 
altogether,  so  far  as  has  been  explored,  and  to  all  appearances, 
together  with  the  information  received  concerning  the  balance,  is 
so  bad  there  would  not  be  more  than  one  acre  out  of  a  hundred, 
if  there  would  be  one  out  of  a  thousand  that  would  in  any  case 
admit  of  cultivation." 

Mr.  Dikeman  became  a  member  of  Phoenix  Lodge,  No.  4,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  of  New  York  city,  in  1823,  and  lie  was  one  of  the  first 
officers  and  charter  members  of  Grand  River  lodge,  in  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan.  He  has  been  indentified  with  this  order  for  over  fifty  years, 
and  enjoys  the  full  esteem  of  his  brother  Masons. 

Being  one  of  the  pioneers  of  northwestern  Michigan,  he  had  unbounded 
faith  in  the  future  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  Grand  River  valley,  and 
he  has  ever  worked  with  both  his  mind  and  means  for  its  development. 
In  its  infancy,  he  prophesied  a  glorious  future  for  it,  and  time  has  proved 
how  correct  his  foresight  was,  as  he  now  finds  himself  surrounded  by  as 
beautiful  and  prosperous  a  country  as  our  truly  great  State  can  boast  of. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1822,  Mr.  Dikeman  married  Miss  Susanna 
Butler,  of  Norwalk,  Connecticut,  and,  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month, 
1872,  they  celebrated  their  golden  wedding,  at  their  residence  on  Fulton 
street,  Grand  Rapids. 

Now,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-nine,  Mr.  Dikeman,  in  a  happy 
home,  with  a  fair  fortune  and  surrounded  by  his  children,  grandchildren, 
and  hosts  of  friends,  is  enjoying  the  closing  years  of  an  active  and 
prosperous  life. 


416  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

Accordingly,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  1816,  Congress 
passed  an  act  repealing  so  much  of  the  law  of  the  sixth  of  May, 
1812,  as  related  to  Michigan,  and  provided  for  taking  1,500,000 
acres  in  Illinois,  north  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  500,000  acres  in 
the  Territory  of  Missouri,  in  lieu  of  the  2,000,000  acres  which 
could  not  be  found  in  Michigan. 

It  is  difficult,  at  this  late  day,  to  imagine  how  such  a  report 
could  have  been  honestly  made.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  no 
examination  worthy  the  name  was  made.  Again,  the  fur-traders 
were  interested  in  preventing  the  settlement  of  the  country,  and 
the  Surveyor-General  may  have  chosen  to  rely  upon  their  state 
ments,  instead  of  making  a  thorough  examination  for  himself. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  the  country,  through  the  energy  of  General 
Cass,  was  soon,  to  a  certain  extent,  undeceived ;  although  it  was 
many  years  before  the  bad  impression  was  eradicated  from  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  the  East.  During  that  year  and  the  fol 
lowing,  the  country  was  more  fully  explored,  and  numerous  tracts 
of  the  most  fertile  land,  with  a  rolling  surface,  were  discovered. 
Prosperity  began  to  abound,  and  population  to  increase  by  immi 
gration  and  settlement.  When  General  Cass  became  thoroughly 
convinced  of  the  falsity  of  the  reports  concerning  the  quality  of 
the  soil  of  the  interior,  and  saw  a  hardy  and  enterprising  popula 
tion  gathering  around  him,  he  called  for  the  views  of  the  inhabit 
ants,  in  March,  1818,  upon  the  question  of  changing  the  civil 
authority  by  entering  upon  the  second  grade  of  Territorial  govern 
ment.  A  vote  wras  accordingly  taken,  and  a  majority  were 
against  it.  But,  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  emigration  and 
settlement,  General  Cass  recommended  to  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  that  the  lands  in  the  district  of  Detroit  be  at  once  sur 
veyed  and  brought  into  market.  The  department  at  once  acted 
upon  this  suggestion,  and  in  the  following  September  and  October 
sales  were  made.  This  movement  gave  a  new  impetus  to  agricul 
ture,  and  added  greatly  to  the  permanent  prosperity  of  the 
country.  A  great  change  took  place  in  public  opinion  concerning 
the  value  of  these  lands,  and  subsequent  surveys  more  fully  con 
firmed  the  inaccuracy  of  former  impressions. 

In  the  following  year,  General  Cass  met  the  Chippewas  in  coun- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


417 


cil  at  Saginaw,  and  concluded  a  treaty  by  which  large  relinquish- 
ments  to  lands  in  Michigan  were  obtained,  embracing  about  six 
millions  of  acres. 

During   the  year   1819,  two  events  occurred  in  the  history  of 


MAJOR    LOWELL  HALL. 

LOWELL  HALL,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Middlesex 
county,  Massachusetts,  June  24,  1802. 

At  the  age  of  two  years,  with  his  parents,  he  emigrated  to  the  State  of 
Vermont,  and,  two  years  later,  he  went  from  there  to  the  Black  river 
country,  in  northern  New  York.  Here,  with  such  limited  means  as  the 
country  afforded,  he  learned  the  elementary  branches — studying  evenings 
by  the  cheerful  blaze  of  a  fire-place,  in  a  log  house.  Removing  from 
here,  in  1815,  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Genesee  county,  New  York. 
27 


418  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

Michigan,  which  may  be  said  to  have  inaugurated  a  new  era  in 
her  progress.  The  first  was  when  the  first  steamboat,  the  Walk- 
in-the- Water,  made  her  appearance  on  Lake  Erie,  crossing  that 
lake,  and  passing  up  to  Mackinaw.  The  second  was  the  granting 
to  the  people  of  Michigan  the  privilege  of  electing  a  delegate  to 
Congress.  These  events  were  great  advances  in  the  hopes  and 
prosperity  of  Michigan.  By  the  first,  a  new  and  valuable  means 
of  commercial  intercourse  was  introduced ;  and,  by  the  latter,  a 
new  channel  of  communication  was  opened,  through  which  the 
people  could  communicate  to  Congress  and  the  national  govern 
ment  their  wants  and  situation.  Again,  what  was,  perhaps,  of  as 
great  importance  as  either  of  the  above  events,  further  sales  of 
public  lands  were  ordered  and  made.  This  would  cause  settle 
ments  to  be  made  further  into  the  interior  of  the  peninsula,  and 
land,  now  studded,  at  long  intervals,  on  the  banks  of  her  lakes  and 
rivers,  by  the  Frenchman's  hut,  or  the  solitary  post  of  the  fur 
trader,  would  soon  become  the  sites  of  towns  and  villages,  teeming 
with  commerce  and  civilization. 

By  the  census  taken  about  this  time,  the  population  of  the  Ter 
ritory  was  ascertained  to  be  eight  thousand  eight  hundred  and 

After  a  short  course  at  the  Middlebury  academy,  now  in  Wyoming- 
county,  he  commenced  teaching  in  the  district  schools.  He  followed 
this  occupation  for  two  successive  winters,  receiving  as  a  salary  twelve 
dollars  per  month,  payable  in  wheat,  at  three  shillings  per  bushel,  and  he 
was  also  required  to  "  board  around." 

Not  satisfied  with  this  mode  of  life,  in  1823  he  engaged  as  clerk  in  a 
village  store,  owned  by  Hon.  Henry  Hawkins,  of  Alexander,  Genesee 
county,  New  York,  with  whom  he  remained  as  clerk  and  partner  respect 
ively  for  eleven  years.  During  these  years,  he  had  acquired  considerable 
wealth  and  married  Miss  Collins,  of  Orleans  county.  In  1838,  his  fortune 
was  almost  entirely  swept  away,  through  his  becoming  bondsman  for 
men  who  failed. 

With  an  untiring  energy,  nothing  daunted,  he  succeeded  in  organizing 
the  Attica  and  Buffalo  Railroad  (a  charter  having  been  secured  in  1836), 
which  was  the  last  link  in  the  chain  of  railway  from  Albany  to  Buffalo. 
He  was  a  director  and  secretary  of  this  road,  which  was  finished  in 
seventeen  months,  and  which  was  the  best  and  cheapest  road  in  the  State 
at  that  time. 

Subsequently  he  procured  the  charter  and  organized  the  Attica  and 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  419 

ninety-six.  Detroit  contained  two  hundred  and  fifty  houses,  and 
fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  inhabitants,  not  including  the  garrison. 
The  island  of  Mackinaw,  which  continued  to  be  the  central  mart 
of  the  fur  trade,  had  a  stationary  population  of  four  hundred  and 
fifty,  which  occasionally  increased  to  not  less  than  two  thousand, 
by  the  Indians  and  fur  traders  who  resorted  there  from  the  upper 
lakes.  The  settlement  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie  contained  fifteen 
or  twenty  houses,  occupied  by  French  and  English  families. 

The  ordinance  of  1787  provided  that  lot  number  sixteen  in  every 
township  should  be  set  apart  for  the  support  of  common  schools, 
but  as  yet  no  measures  had  been  taken  to  establish  any  system  of 
public  instruction  in  Michigan.  The  act  drawn  up  by  Judge 
Woodward,  however,  and  passed  by  the  governor  and  judges,  in 
1817,  must  be  excepted.  But  this  was  of  no  practical  value  at 
that  time,  although  it  deserves  mention  as  a  curiosity,  if  nothing 
more.  The  act  referred  to  was  for  the  establishment  of  what  was 
styled  in  it  the  Catholepestemiad,  or  University  of  Michigan.  The 
University  was  to  have  thirteen  didaxia,  or  professorships,  each 
of  which  was  to  be  endowed  in  the  most  liberal  manner.  It 
was  designed,  undoubtedly,  to  lay  the  foundation  for  a  thorough 
education,  both  broad  and  deep ;  but,  at  that  early  date,  was 

Hornellsville  road,  now  the  New  York  and  Erie,  and  over  which  fifty 
trains  are  now  passing  daily. 

In  1855,  he  came  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  in  the  interest  of  the 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad,  and  continued  with  it  until  its  com 
pletion. 

During  the  rebellion,  Mr.  Hall  was  actively  engaged  in  raising  troops, 
and,  in  the  winter  preceding  its  close,  at  the  advanced  age  of  sixty-three, 
he  accepted  an  unsolicited  commission  and  entered  the  service,  where  he 
remained  until  peace  was  declared,  when  he  was  mustered  out,  having 
been  breveted  major  for  meritorious  services. 

Returning  home,  he  organized  and  was  elected  president  of  the  Grand 
Rapids  and  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  which  is  now  consolidated  with  the 
Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore.  Following  the  completion  of  the 
above  road,  he  organized  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Saginaw  Railroad,  of  one 
hundred  miles  in  length,  and  nearly  an  air  line.  Mr.  Hall  is  the  presi 
dent  of  this  organization,  and  now,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one,  is  as 
actively  and  energetically  engaged  in  its  construction  as  he  was  in 
those  with  which  he  was  connected  thirty  years  ago. 


420  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ridiculously  impracticable.  Judge  Woodward,  its  author,  would 
seem  to  have  been  endowed  by  nature  with  fair  abilities  and  to 
possess  extensive  acquirements ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  to  have  a 
fatal  tendency  towards  impracticable  schemes,  and  to  lay  out  his 
work  on  such  a  magnificent  scale,  as  to  preclude  the  possibility  of 
its  completion.  It  is  to  him  that  Detroit  is  indebted  for  the  early 
plan  of  the  city,  laid  out  in  the  form  of  a  cobweb.  His  classical 
mind  was  pleased  with  the  idea  of  a  Campus  Martins,  and  a 
Grand  Circus,  with  avenues  radiating  in  every  direction  from  a 
grand  center,  with  cross  streets  connecting  them,  and  grand  pub 
lic  squares  and  parks  interspersed.  The  result  was,  a  plan  so 
vast  in  extent,  and  so  complex  in  design,  that  centuries  would  be 
required  to  fill  it.  His  plan  for  a  University  was  on  an  equally 
magnificent  scale  ;  and  the  act  was  clothed  in  language  more 
suited  to  the  learned  professors  of  the  law  of  five,  centuries  ago, 
than  to  the  practical  backwoodsman  of  1817. 

Michigan  was  now  rapidly  increasing  in  population.  Koads 
were  being  built,  and  the  sound  of  the  woodman's  axe  was  heard 
in  every  direction.  Settlers  were  extending  themselves  along  the 
Rivers  St.  Clair,  Raisin,  and  Huron ;  and  settlements  were  made 
where  now  stand  the  cities  of  Ann  Arbor,  Ypsilanti,  Jackson, 
Tecumseh  and  Pontiac.  But  they  were  not  yet  free  from  the 
annoyance  of  the  Indians.  The  Foxes  and  Sacs  annually  made 
their  appearance  to  receive  thousands  of  dollars  of  presents  from 
the  British  agents  at  Maiden.  It  was  no  unfrequent  occurrence 
for  them,  as  they  passed  along,  to  commit  depredations  upon  the 
property  of  the  whites.  This  annual  tribute  also  had  a  tendency 
to  create  and  strengthen  an  attachment  and  sympathy  between  the 
Indians  and  the  British  government.  It  became  obvious,  then, 
that  some  measures  were  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to  this  custom, 
and  to  remove  the  Indians  as  far  as  possible  from  British  influ 
ence,  so  annoying  to  the  settlers  even  in  time  of  peace,  and  in 
time  of  war  so  dangerous.  Besides,  the  country  situated  upon  the 
borders  of  the  upper  lakes  was  then  but  little  known,  and  it  was 
desirable  that  a  more  intimate  knowledge  of  its  characteristics 
and  resources  should  be  in  possession  of  the  general  government. 
Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  1819,  General  Cass  directed  the  atten- 


HISTOKY 


MICHIGAN. 


421 


tion  of  the  government  at  Washington  to  the  matter,  and  set 
forth  the  reasons  why  an  exploration  should  be  made.  Among 
the  important  objects  were :  To  obtain  a  more  thorough  knowl 
edge  of  the  resources  of  the  country ;  a  more  intimate  acquaint- 


JAMES    SCRIBNER. 

ASSOCIATED  with  the  early  history  of  Grand  Rapids,  stands  prominent 
the  name  of  James  Scrilmer,  who  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
in  the  year  1801. 

Going  to  sea  at  an  early  age,  he  was  taken  prisoner  in  his  fourteenth 
year,  by  the  British  frigate  Endymion,  and  carried  to  Halifax,  Nova 
Scotia,  where  he  was  retained  three  months.  Returning  to  the  United 
States,  two  years  later,  he  enlisted  among  the  Sea  Fencibles,  and  was 
stationed  at  the  Narrows,  near  New  York. 

With  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  boot  and  shoe 
maker,  but  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  changed  his  occupation  and 


422  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ance  with  the  Indians  ;  a  knowledge  of  their  moral  condition, 
their  numerical  strength,  and  of  their  feelings  towards  the  United 
States,  and  to  obtain  a  cession  of  the  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Straits  of  St.  Mary's,  Prairie  du  Chien,  Green  Bay,  and  open  the 
communication  between  the  latter  places.  Another  important 
object  was  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  the  mineral  deposits  in  the 
vicinity  of  Lake  Superior.  It  was  also  desirable  to  explain  to  the 
Indians  the  views  of  the  government  respecting  their  annual  visits 
to  Maiden,  and  to  announce  to  them  that  these  visits  must  be  dis 
continued  ;  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  British  fur  trade  within 
our  jurisdiction ;  and,  above  all,  to  "  carry  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  into  those  remote  regions  where  it  had  never  been  borne 
by  any  person  in  a  public  station." 

These  were  the  principal  reasons  urged  by  General  Cass  for 
desiring  the  expedition  to  be  set  on  foot.  But  the  government 
decided  that  it  would  be  inexpedient  to  obtain  any  further  extin 
guishment  of  the  Indian  title,  except  ten  miles  square  at  the 
Sault  Ste.  Marie,  for  military  purposes,  and  of  some  islands,  near 
Mackinaw^  where  beds  of  plaster  had  been  found  to  exist. 

It  will  readily  be  perceived  by  the  intelligent  reader  that  differ 
ent  motives  relative  to  the  matter  actuated  the  government  and 
General  Cass.  The  former  only  looked  to  the  necessity  for  mili 
tary  defense,  whilst  the  latter  was  filled  with  a  desire  to  benefit 
the  people  of  his  Territory,  and  to  secure  its  permanent  advance- 
shipped  on  a  vessel  bound  for  the  Shetland  Islands.  Leaving  the  vessel 
on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  he  traversed  the  southern  and  western  coasts  of 
South  America,  and  the  western  coast  of  Central  America,  making  him 
self  familiar  with  the  Spanish  and  Portugese  languages  and  visiting  all 
important  points  between  Valparaiso  and  San  Francisco. 

In  1820,  he  crossed  the  Pacific  to  China,  and  returned  by  the  way  of 
the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Rio  Janeiro,  from  whence  he  sailed  across  the 
Atlantic  to  Cadiz,  Spain.  Leaving  his  ship  here,  he  traveled  across  Spain 
by  land  and  reshipped  at  Gibraltar,  from  whence  he  sailed  to  Bordeaux, 
France.  Here  he  was  detained  a  year  by  sickness,  and  upon  his  recovery 
he  visited  Italy,  Turkey  and  the  northern  coast  of  Africa. 

Having  now  circumnavigated  the  globe,  visited  the  four  quarters  of 
the  earth,  and  made  himself  familiar  with  the  French,  Spanish,  Portu 
gese  and  Italian  languages,  so  as  to  speak  them  fluently,  he  returned  to 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  423 

ment  and  prosperity.  The  government,  however,  sanctioned  the 
fitting  out  of  the  expedition  for  the  purposes  named,  and  ordered 
a  topographical  engineer,  a  mineralogist,  and  a  physician,  to  join 
it.  It  also  provided  it  with  an  escort  of  soldiers,  all  to  be  under 
the  guidance  and  direction  of  General  Cass. 

The  expedition  was  viewed  at  the  time  as  the  most  important 
ever  undertaken  under  the  auspices  of  the  government.  It  was 
to  travel  in  birch  canoes,  which,  combining  lightness  with  strength, 
could  be  readily  carried  over  portages,  and  bear  considerable  bur 
dens  when  afloat. 

The  names  of  the  party  were  as  follows :  General  Cass,  and 
Robert  A.  Forsyth,  his  private  secretary  ;  Henry  R.  Schoolcraft, 
mineralogist ;  Captain  D.  B.  Douglass,  topographer  and  astron 
omer  ;  Dr.  Alex.  Wolcot,  physician  ;  James  D.  Doty,  official  sec 
retary,  and  Charles  C.  Trowbridge,  assistant  topographer.  Lieut. 
Evans  Mackey  was  commander  of  the  escort,  which  consisted  of  ten 
United  States  soldiers.  Besides  these,  there  were  ten  Canadian 
voyageurs,  to  manage  the  canoes,  and  ten  Indians,  to  act  as  hunters. 
The  latter  were  under  the  direction  of  James  Riley  and  Joseph 
Parks,  who  were  also  to  act  as  interpreters. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  May  the  party  left  Detroit.  The 
banks  of  the  river  were  lined  with  people,  who  cheered  the  depart 
ing  expedition  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm.  They  passed  up 
nine  miles  to  Grosse  Point,  and  landed,  in  consequence  of  a  storm, 

New  York  city,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  and  went  into  the  boot  and 
shoe  business. 

Mr.  Scribner  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1836,  'and  made  Detroit  his 
home  for  some  months,  while  he  was  visiting  different  parts  of  the  State 
to  decide  upon  a  place  for  a  permanent  location.  His  choice  fell  upon 
Grand  Rapids,  and  he  removed  there  in  the  winter  of  1836-7  and  pre- 
emted  a  tract  of  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  river.  There  being 
conflicting  claims  to  the  property,  he  spent  several  years  in  securing  a 
perfect  title.  Succeeding  in  this,  he  platted  it  and  placed  it  in  the 
market.  By  almost  giving  away  lots,  he  drew  settlers  to  the  west  side  of 
the  river,  and  this  tract  of  land  is  now  an  important  part  of  the  city  of 
Grand  Rapids,  and  one  of  the  principal  avenues  bears  Mr.  Spencei's 
name. 

In  connection  with  Mr.  E.  Turner,  he  built  the  first  bridge  at  Grand 


424  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

and  did  not  proceed  further  till  mid-day  of  the  twenty-sixth.  On 
the  sixth  of  June,  they  reached  Michilimackinac,  having  coasted 
along  the  shore  the  whole  distance,  and  been  detained  several 
days,  in  consequence  of  storms  and  rainy  weather.  When  they 
reached  this  place,  they  were  saluted  from  the  fort  by  the  firing 
of  guns,  and  the  inhabitants  turned  out  en  masse  to  bid  them  wel 
come.  They  spent  eight  days  on  this  island,  recuperating,  and 
when  they  took  their  departure,  twenty-two  soldiers,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  John  S.  Pierce,  were  added  to  the  party. 
The  expedition  now  numbered  sixty -four  persons.  They  left  the 
island  on  the  fourteenth  of  June,  and  reached  the  Sault  Ste. 
Marie  on  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth,  and  encamped  for  the  night 
on  the  bank  of  the  river. 

This  place  was  the  seat  of  government  of  the  Chippewas,  and 
had  been  occupied  as  a  military  and  trading  post  from  an  early 
period  of  the  settlement  of  Canada.  Under  the  treaty  of  Green 
ville,  made  in  1795,  a  reservation  was  made,  covering  any  gifts 
or  grants  of  land  in  the  Northwest  Territory,  which  the  Indians 
had  formerly  made  to  the  French  or  English,  and  this  reservation 
had  been  renewed  and  confirmed  by  subsequent  treaties.  The 
United  States  now  claimed  these  concessions  which  had  formerly 
been  made  to  the  French,  and  General  Cass  proposed  to  hold 
a  council  for  settling  the  boundaries  of  the  grant,  and  by  that 

Rapids,  at  Bridge  street  (the  piers  of  which  are  still  standing  and  in  use), 
on  contract  with  the  State  for  six  thousand  acres  of  land.  In  1848,  we 
find  him  associated  with  Mr.  A.  B.  Turner,  in  the  publication  of  the 
Grand  River  Eagk. 

His  public  spirit  and  personal  enterprise  identified  him  with  many 
projects,  some  of  which  were  eminently  successful,  and  others  were 
doomed  to  end  in  disappointment.  One  of  the  prominent  enterprises  in 
which  he  was  a  leading  and  moving  spirit — the  Grand  Rapids  and 
Indiana  Railroad — he  did  not  live  to  see  completed. 

Weary  with  the  mental  labors  of  forwarding  extensive  projects,  he 
spent  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  in  ordinary  business. 

Mr  Scribner  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence,  jolly,  frank  and 
social  in  his  manner,  and  was  known  as  a  warm  friend,  but  an  uncom 
promising  enemy  when  he  felt  himself  or  friends  injured.  His  death 
occurred  on  the  2d  of  October,  1862. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  425 

means  obtain  an  acknowledgment,  and  a  renewal  of  the  conces 


sion. 


Accordingly,  the  next  day,  the  council  assembled  at  the  mar 
quee  of  the  Governor.     The  chiefs  were  arrayed  in  their  grandest 


HON.  R.  M'CLELLAND. 

ROBERT  MCCLELLAND  was  born  on  the  first  day  of  August,  1807,  at 
Green  Castle,  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.  Among  his  ancestors 
were  several  officers  of  rank  in  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and  some  of 
his  family  connections  also  distinguished  themselves  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  in  that  with  Mexico. 

His  father  was  an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon,  who  studied  his 
profession  under  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  of  Philadelphia,  and  practiced  it 
with  great  success  until  six  months  before  his  death,  when  he  was  eighty- 
four  years  of  age. 


426  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

habiliments,  and,  besides  the  usual  profusion  of  feathers,  they 
made  a  conspicuous  display  of  the  medals  which  they  had  from 
time  to  time  received  from  the  British  government.  They  entered 
the  marquee,  seated  themselves  with  all  their  native  dignity,  and 
opened  the  council  with  the  ceremony  of  smoking  the  pipe  of 
peace.  This  ceremony  over,  the  object  of  the  council  was 
explained  to  them.  They  paid  the  strictest  attention  to  the  inter 
preter's  speech,  but  it  was  evident  at  once  that  it  was  not  well 
received.  Many  of  them  replied,  and  expressed  strong  opposi 
tion  to  the  proposed  reoccupancy.  They  at  first  pretended  igno 
rance  of  the  former  grants  to  the  English  and  French  ;  but  were 
soon  pressed  from  that  position  by  a  recurrence  to  facts  of  which 
they  could  not  pretend  to  be  uninformed.  The  talk  soon  became 
desultory,  and  it  was  evident  that  they  disagreed  among  them 
selves.  Some  were  willing  to  adjust  the  boundaries,  providing  no 
military  garrison  was  to  be  established  there.  They  suggested  a 
fear  that  if  it  was  so  occupied,  their  young  men  might  prove 
unruly,  and  kill  the  hogs  and  cattle  that  might  stray  from  the  gar 
rison.  This  was  construed  by  General  Cass  into  a  threat,  and  he 

Although  the  family  of  Mr.  McClelland  had  been  in  good  circum 
stances,  yet,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own 
resources,  and  had  thereafter  to  rely  upon  them. 

After  passing  through  the  usual  course  of  preliminary  study,  and 
teaching  school  to  obtain  the  means,  he  entered  Dickinson  College,  Car 
lisle,  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he  graduated,  among  the  first  in  his 
class,  in  the  year  1829.  He  then  recommenced  his  school  teaching,  and 
went  through  the  usual  course  of  law  study  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  at  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  year  1831.  Soon  afterwards, 
he  removed  to  the  city  of  Pittsburgh,  where  he  vigorously  prosecuted 
his  profession  for  almost  a  year.  His  early  success  at  the  bar  was  such 
as  is  usual  with  young  practitioners  of  fair  promise. 

In  the  year  1833,  Mr.  McClelland  removed  to  Monroe,  in  the  Territory 
of  Michigan,  where,  after  passing  through  a  very  severe  examination, 
such  as  a  committee  with  Hon.  A.  D.  Fraser,  then  in  full  practice,  at  its 
head,  would  be  likely  to  give,  he  became  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Michi 
gan,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  here.  The  early  years  in  the  law 
profession  furnish  a  "  hard  road  to  travel,"  but  Mr.  McClelland  found  it 
as  easy,  with  prospects  as  bright,  as  the  fortunate  aspirants  in  the  pro 
fession  usually  find  it. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  427 

at  once  informed  them,  in  a  dignified  tone  and  manner,  that  the 
establishment  of  a  garrison  at  that  place  was  irrevocably  settled, 
and  that,  as  sure  as  the  sun  set  in  the  west,  the  United  States 
would  send  a  garrison  to  that  place,  whether  the  grant  was 
renewed  or  not.  This  decisive  language  had  its  desired  effect,  and 
at  once  brought  matters  to  a  crisis.  High  words  now  passed 
between  the  Indians  themselves.  Shingabowassin,  the  head  chief 
of  the  band,  a  tall  and  stately  chieftain,  counseled  moderation. 
Shingwauk,  who  had  been  on  the  war  path  in  1814,  advocated 
extreme  measures.  The  last  who  spoke  was  Sassaba,  a  tall,  mar 
tial  looking  chief,  wearing  a  British  uniform,  and  uaid  to  hold  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general  in  the  British  army.  At  the  close  of 
his  speech  he  assumed  a  look  of  savage  wildness,  struck  his  war 
lance  furiously  into  the  ground,  and,  retaking  it,  left  the  marquee, 
spurning  the  presents  which  had  been  laid  before  him.  This 
brought  the  council  to  a  summary  close,  and  the  Indians  retired 
to  their  encampment,  and  the  Americans  to  their  tents. 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  reached  their  encampment,  they  raised 
the  British  flag,  and,  confident  of  their  invincibility,  owing  to 

In  1835,  a  convention  was  called  to  frame  a  constitution  for  the  pro 
posed  State  of  Michigan.  Mr.  McClelland  was  elected  a  member  of  this 
convention.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  its  deliberations  and  ranked 
among  its  clearest-headed  and  ablest  debaters.  After  this,  he  still  con 
tinued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Monroe,  and  was  engaged  in 
most  of  the  important  litigations  in  that  part  of  the  country. 

He  was  appointed  the  first  bank  commissioner  of  the  State,  by  Gover 
nor  Mason,  and  was  offered  the  attorne}r-generalship,  but  declined  both 
of  these  offices. 

In  the  year  1837,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Sabin,  of  Williams- 
town,  Massachusetts.  He  has  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  now 
survive. 

In  the  year  1838,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  in 
which  he  soon  became  distinguished  as  the  head  of  several  important 
committees,  speaker  pro  tempore,  and  as  a  very  active  and  efficient 
member. 

In  the  year  1840,  General  Harrison,  as  candidate^ for  the  presidency, 
swept  the  country  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  State  of  Michigan  was  carried  by  the  Whig  party,  under  the  popular 
cry  of  "  Woodbridge  and  reform,"  against  the  Democratic  party. 


428  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE   STATES. 

their  superiority  in  numbers,  they  indulged  in  acts  of  the  grossest 
insolence.  Matters  were  now  brought  to  a  crisis,  and  a  conflict 
seemed  inevitable.  Only  one  act  could  avert  it  and  that  act  it 
required  the  sublimest  courage  to  perform.  But  General  Cass  was 
equal  to  the  emergency.  He  instantly  ordered  the  expedition 
under  arms,  and,  calling  to  his  interpreter,  he  proceeded,  unarmed 
and  alone,  to  Sassaba's  lodge.  On  reaching  it,  he  indignantly 
tore  down  the  British  flag,  trampled  it  under  his  feet,  and,  turning 
to  Sassaba,  told  him  that  the  hoisting  of  that  insulting  flag  was 
an  indignity  which  would  never  be  tolerated  on  American  soil. 
He  then  proceeded  to  say  that  the  United  States  were  the  natural 
guardians  and  friends  of  the  red  man,  and  desired  to  act  justly  by 
them,  and  to  promote  their  comfort  and  happiness  ;  that  the  flag 
was  the  emblem  of  national  power,  and  that  two  national  flags 
could  not  fly  in  friendship  over  the  same  territory ;  and  that  the 
red  man  must  not  raise  any  but  the  American,  and  that,  if  they 
again  did  it,  the  United  States  government  would  set  a  strong  foot 
upon  their  necks,  and  crush  them  to  the  earth.  He  then  returned 
to  his  own  quarters,  taking  the  offending  flag  with  him. 

At  this  time,  Mr.  McClelland  stood  among  the  acknowledged  leaders 
of  the  latter  party,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  and,  with  others,  adopted  a  plan  to  regain  a  lost  authority 
and  prestige.  This  party  soon  came  again  into  power  in  the  State,  and 
Mr.  McClelland  being  again  returned  to  the  St/ite  Legislature,  his  leader 
ship  was  acknowledged  by  his  election  as  speaker  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives,  in  the  year  1843. 

Down  to  this  time,  Michigan  had  constituted  one  congressional  district. 
The  late  Hon.  Jacob  M.  Howard  had  been  elected  to  Congress  against  the 
Hon.  Alpheus  Felch,  by  a  strong  majority;  but,  in  1848,  so  thoroughly 
had  the  Democratic  party  recovered  from  its  defeat  of  1840,  that  Mr. 
McClelland,  as  candidate  for  Congress,  carried  Detroit  district  by  about 
2,500  majority. 

Mr.  McClelland  soon  took  a  respectable  stand  in  Congress  among  the 
oldest  veterans  of  that  body.  During  his  first  term,  he  was  placed  on 
the  committee  on  commerce  and  originated  what  were  known  as  the 
harbor  bills,  and  carried  them  through. 

The  continued  confidence  of  his  constituency  was  manifested  in  the 
fact,  that  he  was  reflected  to  the  Twenty-ninth  Congress  by  a  strong 
majority.  At  the  opening  of  this  Congress,  he  had  acquired  a  national 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  429 

This  act  of  bravery  had  its  desired  effect,  and  the  Indians  were 
completely  overawed.  They  respect  courage,  in  friend  or  foe. 
Expecting  so  decisive  an  act  to  be  followed  by  an  instant  attack, 
the  Indians  at  once  cleared  their  camp  of  women  and  children, 
and  prepared  for  battle.  The  expedition  also  looked  for  a  con 
flict,  and  held  themselves  in  readiness,  expecting  every  moment 
to  hear  the  wild  war-whoop.  But  moderate  counsels  prevailed 
among  the  Indians ;  and,  before  the  day  passed,  a  better  feeling 
existed  among  them,  and  Shingabowassin  renewed  negotiations. 
Before  nightfall  a  treaty  was  signed,  ceding  four  miles  square,  and 
reserving  the  perpetual  right  to  fish  at  the  rapids  of  the  river. 
This  treaty  was  signed  by  all  the  chiefs  save  Sassaba,  the  warlike 
chieftain  whose  violent  conduct  so  nearly  brought  on  a  conflict. 

The  next  day,  the  seventeenth  of  June,  the  expedition  resumed 
its  journey,  and  launched  their  canoes  upon  the  waters  of  Lake 
Superior.  On  the  twenty-first  they  reached  the  Pictured  Rocks, 
which  consist  of  a  series  of  lofty  bluffs,  extending  along  the  south 
ern  shore  of  the  lake  for  several  miles,  and  presenting  some  of  the 
most  curious,  sublime,  and  commanding  views  in  nature.  On  the 

reputation,  and  so  favorably  was  he  known  as  a  parliamentarian,  that 
his  name  was  mentioned  for  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
He  declined,  however,  in  favor  of  Hon.  John  W.  Davis,  of  Indiana,  who 
was  elected.  In  this  term,  he  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  committee 
on  commerce,  in  which  position  his  reports  and  advocacy  of  important 
measures  at  once  attracted  public  attention.  The  members  of  this  com 
mittee,  as  an  evidence  of  the  esteem  in  which  they  held  his  services,  and 
of  personal  regard  for  him,  presented  him  with  a  beautiful  cane,  which 
he  now  retains  as  a  souvenir  of  the  donors  and  of  his  labors  in  Congress. 
So  strong  was  the  favor  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  constituency,  that 
at  the  election  of  1847,  he  was  reelected  for  a  third  term  to  Congress,  not 
withstanding  the  two  term  principle  had  then  become  one  of  the  standing 
rules  of  party  discipline.  At  the  opening  of  the  Thirteenth  Congress,  he 
was  placed  on  the  committee  on  foreign  relations  by  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Winthrop,  Whig  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  continued 
to  justify  the  confidence  which  was  thus  reposed  in  him,  while  he 
remained  a  member  of  Congress.  As  a  member  of  the  committee  on 
foreign  relations,  what  was  known  as  the  French  spoliation  bill  came 
under  his  special  charge,  and  his  management  of  the  same  was  such  as 
to  command  universal  approbation. 


430  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

evening  of  this  day  they  came  across  a  band  of  Chippewas,  and 
were  welcomed  to  their  lodges.  The  Indians  proved  to  be  friendly 
and  hospitable,  and  entertained  the  expedition  with  songs  and 
dancing.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  June  they  left  Lake  Superior, 
ascended  Portage  river,  and  returned  home  by  way  of  Lake  Mich 
igan,  after  having  traveled  over  four  thousand  miles. 

The  results  of  this  expedition  were,  a  more  thorough  knowledge 
of  a  vast  region  hitherto  almost  unknown  in  its  important  charac 
teristics  ;  a  fund  of  valuable  knowledge  respecting  the  numbers 
and  disposition  of  various  tribes  of  Indians ;  several  important 
Indian  treaties,  by  which  valuable  lands  were  ceded  to  the  United 
States  ;  a  more  accurate  topography  of  the  vast  region  watered 
by  the  great  lakes ;  a  knowledge  of  the  operations  of  the  North 
west  Fur  Company,  and  the  selection  of  sites  for  a  line  of  military 
posts. 

In  the  meantime,  as  before  mentioned,  public  lands  had  been 
brought  into  market,  and  sold,  in  most  instances,  to  actual  settlers. 
The  sales  of  this  and  the  subsequent  year  gave  a  new  impetus 
to  the  rising  destinies  of  the  Territory.  As  yet,  however,  the 

While  in  Congress,  Mr.  McClelland  was  an  advocate  of  the  right  of 
petition,  as  maintained  by  the  distinguished  John  Q.  Adams,  when  the  peti 
tion  was  couched  in  decorous  language,  and  presented  in  a  proper 
manner.  This,  he  regarded  as  a  constitutional  right  of  the  citizen, 
which  should  not  be  impaired  by  any  doctrines  of  temporary  expe 
diency.  He  also  voted  for  the  reception  of  Mr.  Giddings'  bill  for  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  the  district  of  Columbia. 

Mr.  McClelland  was  one  of  the  few  Democratic  associates,  about 
eighteen  in  number,  of  David  Wilmot,  of  Pennsylvania,  in  bringing  for 
ward  for  adoption  by  Congress  and  the  country  the  celebrated  "  Wilmot 
Proviso,"  with  a  view  to  prevent  the  further  extension  of  slavery  in  new 
territory,  which  might  be  acquired  by  the  United  States.  He  and  Mr. 
Wilmot  messed  together  at  the  time  in  Washington,  and  were  on  intimate 
and  confidential  terms. 

He  was  in  several  national  conventions,  and  in  the  Baltimore  conven 
tion  which  nominated  General  Cass  for  the  presidency  in  1848,  and  did 
valiant  service  in  that  year  in  favor  of  the  election  of  that  distinguished 
statesman  to  the  high  position  for  which  he  had  been  selected. 

On  leaving  Congress,  in  1849,  Mr.  McClelland  returned  to  his  practice 
in  Monroe.  In  1850,  a  convention  of  the  State  of  Michigan  was  called 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  431 

great  want  of  the  people  was  roads,  and  but  few  had  been  con 
structed.  What  few  there  were  in  existence  were  in  a  miserable 
condition,  and  almost  impassable  for  the  traveler.  Congress  was 
appealed  to,  and  responded  in  a  liberal  manner.  Bills  were 
passed  and  appropriations  made  for  opening  the  road  between 
Detroit  and  the  Miami  river,  for  the  construction  of  a  road  from 
Detroit  to  Chicago,  a  road  from  Detroit  to  Fort  Gratiot,  and  for 
the  improvement  of  La  Ploisance  bay. 

The  system  of  surveys  of  the  public  domain  was  carried  into 
the  Territory.  Two  straight  lines  were  drawn  through  the  center 
of  the  Territory — east  and  west,  north  and  south.  The  north  and 
south  line  was  called  the  principal  meridian,  and  the  line  east  and 
west  was  called  the  base  line.  The  Territory  was  then  divided 
into  townships,  six  miles  square,  and  the  townships  were  subdi 
vided  into  sections,  a  mile  square.  These  townships  were  then 
numbered,  increasing  from  the  meridian  and  base  lines.  By  this 
means  mathematical  accuracy  was  obtained  in  the  surveys,  and 
the  system  of  marking  divisions  and  subdivisions  furnished  unmis 
takable  evidence  of  the  true  boundaries  of  each  tract  surveyed. 

to  revise  the  State  Constitution.  He  was  elected  a  member,  and  was 
regarded  therein  as  among  the  ablest  and  most  experienced  leaders.  His 
clear  judgment  and  wise  moderation  were  conspicuous,  both  in  the  com 
mittee  room  and  on  the  floor  in  debate. 

Mr.  McClelland  was  an  advocate  of  the  great  compromise  measures  of 
Mr.  Clay,  and,  while  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention,  in  1850, 
attended  a  large  meeting  of  the  friends  of  those  measures  at  the  State 
capitol,  where  he  was  active  in  giving  form  to  a  series  of  resolutions, 
which  were  adopted  in  favor  of  the  so  called  compromise  measures. 

In  the  fall  of  1850,  he  was  a  member  and  president  of  a  Democratic 
State  convention,  which,  with  his  cordial  approval,  also  adopted  resolu 
tions  in  support  of  the  compromise  measures.  But  the  anti-slavery  agita 
tion  was  too  strong  to  be  arrested  by  any  such  means.  It  finally  took 
four  years  of  civil  war  and  desolation,  to  settle  the  slavery  question  in 
the  United  States. 

He  was  in  the  Democratic  national  convention  of  1852.  In  that  year, 
he,  in  company  with  General  Cass  and  Governor  Felch,  made  a  thorough 
canvass  of  the  State.  The  pending  political  issues  were  thoroughly 
discussed,  and  he  continued  a  strong  advocate  of  the  Clay  compromise 
measures.  He  took  an  active  part  generally  in  the  canvass  which 


432  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ID  1821  there  was  still  a  tract  lying  south  of  Grand  River  that 
had  not  been  added  to  the  United  States,  and  it  became  necessary 
once  more  for  Governor  Cass  to  negotiate  with  the  Indians. 
Accordingly,  in  the  summer  of  that  year,  he  embarked  in  a  birch 
canoe  for  another  long  journey  over  stream  and  portage.  The 
route  selected,  it  is  needless  to  say,  was  different  from  the  one  that 
is  usually  traveled  to-day.  The  place  he  desired  to  reach  was 
Chicago,  and  the  route  was  as  follows :  Leaving  Detroit,  he 
descended  to  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee  river.  He  ascended  that 
river  and  crossed  the  intervening  country  to  the  Wabash,  and, 
descending  that  stream  to  the  Ohio,  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  to 
the  Mississippi  river ;  ascended  that  river  to  the  Illinois,  and 
thence  by  that  river  to  Chicago.  It  was  a  long,  lonely  and  cir 
cuitous  voyage,  and  is  mentioned  for  the  purpose  of  reminding 
the  reader  of  the  difficulties  and  hardships  encountered  by  our 
early  pioneers,  and  to  show  what  changes  a  half  a  century  has 
wrought. 

The  American  commissioners  were  General  Cass  and  Judge 
Sibley,  of  Detroit.  Here  an  incident  occurred  which  illustrates 
in  a  striking  manner  one  of  the  peculiar  phases  of  Indian  charac- 

resulted  in  the  election  of  General  Pierce  to  the  presidency  over  General 
Scott. 

In  1851,  the  new  State  convention  took  effect,  and  it  was  necessary 
that  a  governor  should  be  elected  for  the  short  term  of  one  year,  in  order 
to  prevent  an  interregnum,  and  to  bring  the  State  government  under  the 
new  constitution  into  operation  in  harmony  with  the  old  one.  Mr. 
McClelland  was  elected  as  Governor,  and  then,  in  the  fall  of  1852,  he  was 
reflected  for  the  term  of  two  years  from  the  first  of  January,  1853.  His 
administration  as  Governor  was  regarded  as  wise,  prudent  and  concilia 
tory,  and  it  was  as  popular  as  could  be  expected  at  a  time  when  party 
spirit  ran  high.  There  was  really  no  opposition  to  it,  and  when  he 
resigned,  in  March,  1853,  the  State  treasury  was  full  to  overflowing,  and 
the  State  was  otherwise  prosperous. 

So  thoroughly  and  favorably  had  Mr.  McClelland  become  known  as  a 
national  statesman,  that  on  the  organization  of  the  Cabinet  by  President 
Pierce,  in  March,  1853,  he  was  invited  to  take  the  position  of  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  a  place  which  he  filled  during  four  }rears  of  the  Pierce 
administration  most  creditably. 

He  carried  into  the  Cabinet  his  genial  temperament  and  his  conciliatory 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  433 

ter.  As  a  preliminary  step  to  the  negotiations,  the  commissioners 
ordered  that  no  spirits  should  be  given  to  the  Indians,  and 
informed  them  that  "  the  bungs  were  driven  into  the  barrels." 
This  was  a  serious  matter  in  the  eyes  of  these  thirsty  sons  of  the 
forest,  and  forthwith  a  deputation  of  chiefs  waited  upon  the  com 
missioners  to  remonstrate.  At  the  head  of  the  deputation  was  an 
aged  chieftain,  on  whose  head  the  frosts  of  nearly  a  hundred  win 
ters  had  rested,  but  who  was  still,  as  will  be  seen,  in  the  full  pos 
session  of  his  mental  faculties,  and  physically  well  preserved. 
The  commissioners  urged  every  argument  to  convince  him  of  the 
propriety  of  the  course  they  had  adopted,  but  all  to  no  purpose. 
"  Father,"  said  the  hoary-headed  chief,  when  he  was  urged  to 
remain  sober  and  make  a  good  bargain  for  his  people,  "  Father, 
we  do  not  care  for  the  land,  nor  the  money,  nor  the  goods.  What 
we  want  is  whisky.  Give  us  whisky."  But  the  commissioners 
were  inexorable,  and  the  Indians  were  forced  to  content  them 
selves.  A  treaty  was  finally  entered  into  by  which  nearly  all  the 
country  within  the  bounds  of  Michigan,  south  of  Grand  river, 
and  not  before  ceded,  was  granted  to  the  United  States. 

Soon  after  the  return  of  the  commissioners  to  Detroit,  Gover- 

spirit.  He  thoroughly  reorganized  his  department,  reduced  the  expen 
ditures,  adopted  a  course  with  the  Indians  \vhich  relieved  them  from  the 
impositions  and  annoyances  of  the  traders,  produced  harmony  and 
extended  civilization  among  them,  and  during  his  administration  there 
were  no  complaints  by,  and  no  outbreaks  in  the  different  tribes;  there  was 
no  corruption  among  agents,  and  none  in  any  of  the  bureaus.  No  parti 
san  distinctions  were  made  among  the  clerks,  and  merit  alone  was 
regarded  in  making  promotions.  No  censure  or  complaint  was  made 
from  partisan  or  other  sources.  His  intercourse  with  all  was  courteous 
and  indulgent,  and  when  he  left  the  department  it  had  been  brought  into 
perfect  order  and  system.  He  had  otherwise  performed  its  duties  to  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  President  and  his  fellow-members  of  the  Cabinet, 
as  well  as  to  the  public  at  large. 

In  1867,  Michigan  again  called  a  convention  to  revise  the  State  Consti 
tution.  Mr.  McClelland  was  a  member,  and  here  again  his  long  and  tried 
experience  made  him  conspicuous  as  a  prudent  adviser,  and  as  a  sagacious 
parliamentary  leader. 

As  a  lawyer,  he  was  terse  and  pointed  in  the  argument  of  law  ques 
tions,  and  clear,  candid  and  forcible  in  his  addresses  to  juries.  His  great 
28 


434  GENERAL  HISTORY  OP   THE  STATES. 

nor  Cass  was  called  upon  to  exercise  the  pardoning  power  in  two 
cases  of  murder.  The  novelty  of  the  cases  impels  a  mention 
of  them  in  this  volume.  Two  Indians,  named  respectively 
Ketawka  and  Kewabiskim,  had  been  tried  by  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  Territory,  and  found  guilty — one  for  the  murder  of  Dr. 
Madison,  of  the  United  States  Army,  and  the  other  of  the  mur 
der  of  a  trader  at  Green  Bay.  An  application  was  made  to  the 
Governor  to  pardon  them.  The  attitude  of  our  relations  with  the 
Indians  at  the  time  rendered  the  decision  of  the  question  some 
what  embarrassing.  Besides,  it  was  well  known  to  the  Governor 
that  the  British,  who  were  seeking  every  opportunity  to  foment 
quarrels  between  the  Indians  and  our  people,  would  take  advan 
tage  of  the  execution  of  the  murderers,  and  endeavor  to  excite 
the  savages  to  fresh  atrocities  against  the  peaceful  settlers  of  the 
Territory.  Another  consideration  which  had  some  weight  in  the 
mind  of  the  Governor  was  that  higher  or  more  certain  evidence 
of  malice  aforethought  should  be  required  in  the  case  of  a  savage. 
Some  time  elapsed  before  the  decision  was  made,  but  finally  the 
conclusion  was  arrived  at  that  the  evidence  was  too  clear  to  allow 
of  executive  interference,  and  the  law  was  allowed  to  take  its 
course. 

sincerity  and  earnestness,  with  which  he  occasionally  intermixed  a  pleas 
ant  humor  and  a  light  playfulness,  showing  his  complete  mastery  of  his 
subject,  were  sure  to  carry  most  doubtful  cases  in  his  favor. 

In  his  political  addresses  before  the  people,  he  was  especially  forcible 
and  happy.  The  arrangement  of  his  argument  was  natural,  and,  going 
directly  to  the  strong  points  in  his  favor,  and  to  the  weak  points  of  his 
adversary,  he  could  carry  his  audience  with  him  on  most  occasions. 

In  private  party  consultations,  he  was  always  regarded  as  a  prudent 
and  safe  adviser,  urging^an  avoidance  of  all  extremes,  and  the  pursuit  of 
the  golden  mean,  as  the  surest  way  to  success. 

In  the  year  1870,  being  in  private  life,  he  made  the  tour  of  Europe, 
which,  through  his  extensive  learning,  and  his  personal  acquaintance 
with  many  of  the  European  diplomats,  he  was  well  calculated  to  relish 
and  enjoy  as  few  tourists  are  enabled  to  do. 

Mr.  McClelland  is  a  genial  companion,  a  good  neighbor,  an  earnest 
friend,  and  his  great  experience  and  extended  knowledge  of  men  and 
public  officers  enables  him  to  observe  with  deep  interest  the  great  pano 
rama  of  public  events,  and  enjoy  all  the  attractions  of  private  life. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  435 

December  twenty-fifth,  1821,  was  the  day  fixed  for  the  execution 
of  the  prisoners.  They  met  their  fate  with  the  stoical  indifference 
which  it  is  the  pride  of  the  Indian  to  exhibit  when  his  fate  is 
sealed,  and  resistance  out  of  the  question.  After  their  own  cus 
toms,  they  prepared  to  meet  their  fate.  They  laid  aside,  as  an 
offering  to  the  Great  Spirit,  all  the  tobacco,  pipes,  and  such  other 
articles  as  they  were  possessed  of.  They  drew  a  piece  of  leather 
over  their  drinking  vessel,  thus  forming  a  kind  of  drum,  around 
which,  after  painting  their  faces  black,  they  danced  their  death 
dance  and  sang  their  death  song.  They  drew  upon  the  prison 
walls,  in  red  paint,  rude  figures  of  men,  beasts  and  reptiles.  On 
their  blankets  they  painted  a  representation  of  the  execution  of 
an  Indian  by  hanging.  The  gallows  was  erected  in  plain  view  of 
their  prison  window,  and  they  were  informed  that  it  was  for  their 
execution.  But  the  sight  excited  no  expression  of  dread  or  fear 
of  death.  They  had  resolved  to  die,  as  their  fathers  had  died, 
heroically,  and  with  no  exhibition  of  emotion  or  weakness.  When 
the  day  of  execution  arrived  they  were  as  stoical  as  ever,  and 
ascended  the  platform  with  the  utmost  firmness  and  composure. 
When  the  fatal  moment  arrived,  they  shook  hands  with  their 
counsel  and  others  who  stood  near,  and  asked  pardon  of  the  peo 
ple  for  the  crime  they  had  committed.  Then,  shaking  hands  with 
each  other,  the  black  caps  were  drawn  over  their  faces,  and,  hand- 
in-hand,  they  passed  over  to  the  happy  hunting  grounds. 

The  following  year  it  became  necessary,  so  rapid  was  the  settle 
ment  of  the  country  going  forward,  to  create  six  new  counties. 
These  extended  from  the  head  of  Lake  Erie,  parallel  with  the 
Detroit  river  and  Lake  St.  Clair,  towards  Saginaw  Bay.  The 
counties  thus  laid  out  were  Lapeer,  Sanilac,  Saginaw,  Shiawassee, 
Washtenaw  and  Lenawee.  Public  travel  also  began  to  increase, 
and  for  the  first  time  in  the  Territory  a  stage  line  was  established. 
This  line  of  stages  ran  from  Detroit  to  the  county  seat  of  Macomb 
county,  connecting  with  the  steamer  Walk-in-the- Water. 

In  1823,  Congress  passed  an  act  changing  the  form  of  the  Terri 
torial  government.  This  act  abrogated  the  legislative  power  of 
the  Governor  and  Judges,  and  established  a  Legislative  Council,  to 
consist  of  nine  members.  These  members  were  to  be  appointed 


436  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate,  out  of  eighteen  candidates  elected  by  the 
people  of  the  Territory.  This  council  and  the  Governor  of  the 
Territory  were  invested  with  the  same  powers  which  had  been 
before  granted  by  the  ordinance  of  1787  to  the  Governor,  Legis 
lative  Council  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Northwestern 
Territory.  By  this  law  the  term  of  a  judicial  office  was  limited  to 
four  years,  and  eligibility  to  office  required  the  same  qualifications 
as  the  right  of  suffrage. 

This  act  met  the  cordial  approbation  of  the  people  of  the  Ter 
ritory.  They  were  now  invested  with  a  more  compact  and  ener 
getic  government.  An  interest  was  awakened  in  the  minds  of  the 
people  in  the  affairs  of  their  government,  and  they  began  to 
experience  that  sensation  of  citizenship  which  underlies  the  growth 
and  prosperity  of  all  civilized  communities. 

The  first  Legislative  Council  convened  under  this  act  met  for  the 
first  time  at  the  council  house  at  Detroit,  on  the  seventh  day  of 
June,  1824.  Governor  Cass  then  delivered  his  message,  briefly 
reviewing  the  progress  of  the  Territory  since  his  administration 
commenced,  and  marking  out  what  he  considered  the  proper  line 
of  policy  in  its  existing  condition.  Amongst  other  matters  to 
which  the  Governor  called  the  attention  of  the  council  was  that  of 
schools  and  education — a  subject  not  so  much  discussed  or  gener 
ally  appreciated  as  since. 

In  the  course  of  this  year  Governor  Cass  called  the  attention  of 
the  general  government  to  the  mineral  resources  of  the  Lake 
Superior  country,  and  asked  that  steps  might  be  taken  to  procure 
from  the  Indians  the  privilege  of  exploring  and  mining  in  that 
country.  In  compliance  with  this  recommendation,  the  Senate 
passed  a  bill  conferring  authority  on  the  President  to  appoint  a 
commissioner  to  treat  with  the  Indians  for  this  purpose.  The 
House,  however,  refused  to  concur;  but  at  the  next  session  of 
Congress  the  bill  passed  both  Houses.  This  was  the  first  legisla 
tion  which  led  to  the  commencement  of  mining  operations  on 
Lake  Superior. 

In  November,  1826,  the  council  again  convened.  During  that 
session  they  were  called  upon  to  consider  a  question  which,  sev- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


437 


eral  years  after,  threatened  to  embroil  the  Territory  in  an  armed 
conflict  with  the  State  of  Ohio.  This  was  in  reference  to  the 
dividing  line  between  Michigan  and  the  contiguous  States  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Illinois.  A  discussion  of  this  question,  is,  however, 
more  properly  reserved  for  a  future  chapter. 


M.  V.  BORGMAN. 

MARTIN  V.  BORGMAN,  who  has  efficiently  discharged  the  duties  of 
superintendent  of  the  metropolitan  police  department  of  Detroit  since 
1866,  was  born  in  Minster,  Ohio,  in  1838. 

At  the  age  of  twenty  he  visited  Michigan,  and  in  1861  he  was  among 
the  first  citizens  of  Detroit  who  volunteered  to  serve  the  State  in  the 
Union  army  to  suppress  the  rebellion.  He  entered  as  a  private,  and  three 
years  later  returned  with  the  honors  of  first  lieutenant.  Soon  after  his 
return  he  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  police  commissioners  to  the 
position  of  captain  of  the  Detroit  police  force,  an  appropriate  recognition 


438  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

In  the  meantime,  a  change  had  been  made  in  the  manner  of 
selecting  the  minor  officers  of  the  Territory.  All  the  county 
officers,  save  those  of  a  judicial  character,  were  made  elective  by 
the  people,  and  all  executive  appointments  were  required  to  be 
approved  by  the  Legislative  Council.  An  act  was  also  passed 
empowering  the  Governor  and  council  to  divide  the  Territory  into 
townships,  to  incorporate  the  same,  and  to  define  their  rights  and 
privileges. 

The  country  was  now  rapidly  increasing  in  wealth  and  popula 
tion.  A  new  impetus  had  been  given  to  the  growth  of  the  whole 
Northwest,  by  the  opening,  in  1825,  of  the  Erie  canal  from  the 
Hudson  river  to  Buffalo.  The  effect  of  the  completion  of  this  mag 
nificent  enterprise  was  to  cheapen  transportation,  and  give  to  the 
West  the  foreign  merchandise  of  which  it  stood  in  need,  at  a 
greatly  reduced  price.  At  the  same  time  it  had  the  effect  of 
enhancing  the  price  of  the  agricultural  products  of  the  West  in  a 
still  greater  proportion.  Consequently,  lands  increased  in  value, 
and  new  facilities  and  new  motives  were  offered  for  settlement. 
The  Walk-in-the- Water  was  now  found  too  slow  and  of  insuffi 
cient  capacity  to  accommodate  the  travelers  and  their  goods  over 
the  rough  waters  of  the  lakes.  To  accommodate  this  increase,  the 
Henry  Clay,  and  other  steam  vessels,  were  built.  To  meet  the 
increasing  demand  for  land,  new  surveys  were  made,  and  large 
tracts  of  land  thrown  upon  the  market.  Capital  began  to  flow  in 
and  seek  investment  in  the  fertile  acres  which  were  thrown  open 
for  settlement.  Improvements,  local  and  general,  were  made ; 
the  small  settlements  began  to  swell  into  villages ;  public  edifices 
and  private  mansions  were  projected  and  built ;  the  echo  of  the 

of  his  services  in  the  war.  Subsequently,  Superintendent  Drake  tendered 
Ms  resignation,  which  was  accepted  by  the  board,  and  thus  devolved 
upon  Captain  Borgman  the  functions  of  that  official  station,  in  addition 
to  the  duties  of  his  own  office.  His  deportment  under  these  trying  cir 
cumstances  was  highly  commendable,  and  secured  his  promotion  to  the 
high  station  of  superintendent  soon  after  Mr.  Drake's  resignation,  in  1866. 
Since  that  time  Mr.  Borgman  has  continued  in  the  same  responsible 
office,  and  enjoys  to-day  the  entire  support  of  the  police  board,  with  the 
confidence  and  esteem  of  the  whole  public. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  439 

woods  was  supplanted  by  the  busy  hum  of  commerce ;  and  rich 
fields  of  golden  grain,  and  other  products  of  agricultural  industry, 
were  to  be  seen  on  every  hand,  and  were  harvested  and  shipped 
to  the  sea-board.  Michigan  now  began  to  be  considered  the  asy 
lum  and  the  retreat  for  all  who  would  better  their  fortunes  by 
industry.  It  was,  indeed,  a  country  where  honest  industry  was 
sure  to  be  rewarded  by  a  competence,  and  eventual  wealth.  The 
hardy  pioneers  scattered  all  over  the  country ;  the  stroke  of  the 
woodman's  axe  made  the  ancient  woods  resound,  and  the  smoke 
of  their  cabins  everywhere  ascended  from  the  depths  of  the  forest. 
The  lakes  and  rivers  presented  a  no  less  busy  scene.  The  white 
wings  of  commerce  were  spread  upon  their  waters,  and  the  black 
smoke  of  mighty  steamers,  like  a  portentous  cloud,  stretched 
along  the  horizon.  The  reign  of  nature  in  these  mighty  forests 
had  ended — the  reign  of  man  had  begun. 

In  the  meantime,  in  order  to  meet  the  claims  of  the  increasing 
population  of  the  Territory,  new  privileges  of  a  political  charac 
ter  had  been  granted  them.  The  Legislative  Council  was  increased 
to  thirteen  members,  to  be  chosen  by  the  President  from  twenty- 
six  selected  as  candidates  by  the  people.  This  change  was  made 
in  1825.  In  1827  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  electors  to 
choose  their  representatives  directly,  without  the  further  sanction 
of  either  the  President  or  Congress.  The  power  of  enacting  laws 
was  given  to  the  council,  subject,  however,  to  the  approval  of 
Congress,  and  the  veto  of  the  Governor  of  the  Territory.  Upon 
this  footing  the  government  of  the  Territory  remained  until  the 
organization  of  the  State  government. 

The  prosperity  of  the  Territory  continued  to  ^increase  from  this 
time  forward ;  and  it  is  but  simple  justice  to  say  that  to  the  wise 
and  beneficent  administration  of  Governor  Cass  this  unexampled 
growth  is  to  be,  in  a  great  measure,  attributed.  It  would  be 
unjust,  however,  to  omit  the  just  praise  to  which  his  counselors 
are  entitled.  William  Woodbridge,  particularly,  who  was  the 
Secretary  of  the  Territory  during  the  administration  of  Governor 
Cass,  and  acting  governor  during  the  absence  of  the  chief  execu 
tive,  is  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  ability  and  untiring  zeal 
with  which  he  performed  the  arduous  duties  of  his  office.  He  was 


440  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

also  the  Territorial  delegate  to  Congress  during  a  portion  of  the 
time,  and  ably  represented  his  constituency  in  that  body.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  culture  and  refinement,  and  strictly  honorable 
and  conscientious  in  his  official  and  private  life.  He  retired  from 
the  office  of  Secretary  of  the  Territory  in  1828,  when  he  was  suc 
ceeded  by  James  Witherell,  who  held  the  office  two  years,  and 
was  succeeded  by  the  appointment  of  General  John  T.  Mason 
of  Kentucky. 

In  1831,  Governor  Cass  was  appointed  Secretary  of  War  in  the 
Cabinet  of  President  Jackson,  and  he  thereupon  retired  from  the 
office  of  Governor  of  Michigan,  having  served  in  that  capacity 
for  the  period  of  eighteen  years.  He  had  been  appointed  six 
times,  running  through  the  presidency  of  Madison,  Monroe,  and 
John  Quincy  Adams — without  a  single  representation  against 
him  from  the  people  in  all  that  time,  or  a  single  vote  against 
him  in  the  Senate.  He  had,  in  the  meantime,  faithfully  dis 
charged  his  duties  as  Indian  Commissioner,  and  had  concluded 
nineteen  treaties  with  the  Indians,  and  acquired  large  cessions  in 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  The  people 
of  the  Territory  fully  appreciated  his  worth  at  the  time,  as  was 
more  than  once  manifested  in  after  years. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  PORTER — THE  BLACK  HAWK  WAR 
— CONSTRUCTION  OF  ROADS — THE  FIRST  RAILROAD  COMPANY  ORGAN 
IZED — BANKS  CHARTERED — COMMON  SCHOOLS  ORGANIZED — CHANGE 
IN  THE  METHOD  OF  DISPOSING  OF  PUBLIC  LANDS — DEATH  OF  GOV 
ERNOR  PORTER. 

UPON  the  elevation  of  General  Cass  to  a  seat  in  the  cabinet  of 
President  Jackson,  and  his  consequent  resignation  of  the  office  of 
Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  General  George  B.  Por 
ter,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  appointed  governor.  This  occurred  in 
July,  A.  D.  1831,  and  Governor  Porter  entered  upon  the  dis 
charge  of  the  duties  of  his  office  on  the  twenty-second  of  the  fol 
lowing  September.  The  population  of  the  Territory  at  that  time 
amounted  to  about  thirty-five  thousand. 

The  administration  of  Governor  Porter  presents  but  few  points 
that  possess  attractions  for  the  pen  of  the  historian.  It  was  a 
time  of  almost  profound  peace.  The  terrible  wars  which  had 
devastated  the  country  in  former  years  were  over.  The  Territory 
was  on  the  high  road  to  prosperity  and  affluence.  The  arts  of 
peace  alone  were  cultivated.  It  is  at  such  times  that  States  grow 
to  greatness,  such  as  wealth  and  population  can  give ;  but  it  is 
the  tale  of  hardships,  struggles,  bloodshed  and  rapine  that  fills  the 
pages  of  a  nation's  history.  Fortunately  for  Michigan,  the  long 
struggle  for  the  mastery  of  her  soil  was  now  practically  ended, 
and  the  attention  of  her  people  and  her  rulers  was  directed  to  the 
promotion  of  her  material  advancement  and  the  development  of 
her  resources.  The  only  war  cloud  that  appeared  above  the  hori 
zon  during  the  administration  of  Governor  Porter  was  what  is 
known  as  the  Black  Hawk  war ;  but  this  was  confined,  in  its 
effects  on  Michigan,  more  to  that  part  of  the  Territory  now  con 
stituting  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  than  to  the  peninsula.  Gover- 


442  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

nor  Porter,  however,  cooperated  with  the  executives  of  the  States 
of  Missouri,  Illinois  and  Indiana,  and  furnished  militia  from  the 
western  part  of  the  Territory  to  aid  in  punishing  the  savages. 
The  campaign  was  short  and  decisive,  and  ended  in  the  unquali 
fied  submission  of  the  hostile  party,  and  in  the  adoption  of  meas 
ures  for  the  permanent  security  of  the  frontier.  Treaties  of 
cession  were  formed  with  the  Winnebagoes,  and  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  by  which  the  Indian  title  was  extinguished  to  all  the  coun 
try  south  of  the  Ouisconsin  and  east  of  the  Mississippi,  and  to  an 
extensive  region  west  of  that  river. 

During  Governor  Porter's  administration,  Wisconsin,  which 
had  before  been  annexed  to  Michigan,  was  erected  into  a  separate 
Territory.  In  the  meantime  the  commerce  on  Lake  Erie  was 
rapidly  increasing.  Many  new  townships  were  organized,  and 
roads  were  constructed  into  the  interior.  In  looking  over  the 
records  of  that  time,  it  is  found  that  in  the  year  1832  alone  there 
were  roads  constructed,  or  authorized  by  the  Territorial  council 
as  follows :  From  Point  du  Chene  to  the  Fort  Gratiot  turnpike, 
from  Battle  Creek  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kalamazoo  river,  from  a 
point  on  the  Chicago  road  to  the  county  seat  of  Calhoun  county, 
from  Pontiac  to  Ann  Arbor,  from  Southfield  to  Detroit,  from 
Kochester  to  Lapeer,  from  Pontiac  to  Adrian,  from  Vistula  to 
Indiana,  from  Branch  county  to  the  mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph's 
river,  from  Ten  Eycks  to  the  principal  meridian,  from  Ecorse  to 
the  Chicago  road,  from  Jacksonburgh  to  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
Joseph's  river,  and  from  Monguagon  to  St.  Joseph's.  In  conse 
quence  of  these  improvements,  the  country  became  better  known, 
a  spirit  of  speculation  became  awakened,  and,  in  addition  to  the 
actual  settlers,  there  were  hundreds  of  speculators  traversing  the 
woods  in  search  of  eligible  lands,  which  they  purchased  and  held 
for  an  increase  in  value.  The  same  year  the  Legislative  Council 
passed  an  act  to  provide  for  the  establishment  and  regulation  of 
common  schools.  An  act  was  also  passed  incorporating  "The 
Lake  Michigan  Steamboat  Company,"  with  a  capital  of  forty  • 
thousand  dollars.  The  names  of  the  corporators  were,  James 
Abbott,  Oliver  Newberry,  Benjamin  F.  Lamed,  B.  Kercheval, 
John  Palmer,  and  Reynold  Gillett.  The  Legislative  Council  of 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


443 


that  year  is  also  entitled  to  the  credit  of  having  passed  the  first 
act  of  incorporation  under  which  a  railroad  company  was  organ 
ized  in  Michigan.  This  was  the  act  incorporating  the  Detroit  and 
St.  Joseph  Kailroad  Company.  The  names  of  the  commissioners 


JOHN   P.  ALLISON. 

JOHN  P.  ALLISON,  a  prominent  business  man  of  East  Saginaw,  was 
born  in  the  town  of  Haverstraw,  Rockland  county,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  April  15,  1817. 

At  an  early  age,  he  removed  to  New  York  city,  and  [from  there  emi 
grated  to  Michigan,  in  June,  1854,  taking  up  his  residence  in  East 
Saginaw,  then  but  a  small  village.  In  his  journey  from  New  York,  Mr. 
Allison  traveled  by  railroad  and  boat  to  Detroit,  and  found  the  accom 
modations  for  travelers  in  those  days  far  different  from  w^at  they  are  at 


444  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

were  John  Biddle,  John  K.  Williams,  Charles  Larned,  E.  P. 
Hastings,  Oliver  Newberry,  De  Garmo  James,  James  Abbott, 
John  Gilbert,  Abel  Millington,  Job  Gorton,  John  Allen,  Anson 
Brown,  Samuel  W.  Dexter,  W.  E.  Perrine,  William  A.  Thomp 
son,  Isaac  Crary,  O.  W.  Golden,  Caleb  Eldred,  Cyrus  Lovell,  Cal 
vin  Brittain,  and  Talman  Wheeler.  The  State  reserved  the  right 
to  purchase  the  road  at  its  original  cost  and  fourteen  per  cent 
interest.  The  act  also  contained  the  following  provision  : 

"  Said  corporation,  hereby  created,  shall  have  power  to  con 
struct  a  single  or  double  railroad,  from  the  city  of  Detroit  to  the 
mouth  of  the  St.  Joseph  river,  commencing  at  Detroit,  and  pass 
ing  through,  or  as  near  as  practicable  to  the  village  of  Ypsilanti 
and  the  county  seats  of  Washtenaw,  Jackson,  Calhoun,  and  Kala- 
mazoo,  with  power  to  transport,  take  and  carry  property  and  per 
sons  upon  the  same,  by  the  power  and  force  of  steam,  of  animals, 
or  of  any  mechanical,  or  other  power,  or  of  any  combination  of 
them." 

It  also  provided  that  the  road  should  be  completed  within  thirty 
years.  As  this  road  was  the  one  now  known  as  the  Michigan 
Central  Railroad,  it  is  needless  to  add  that  the  latter  condition 
was  complied  with.  The  same  council  also  passed  an  act  incor 
porating  the  "  Bank  of  the  River  Raisin,"  with  a  branch  at  Pon- 

present.  From  Detroit  he  went  to  Pontiac  by  rail,  and  from  there  he 
traversed  the  remainder  of  his  journey  to  East  Saginaw  by  the  old 
fashioned  stage-coach. 

Arriving  at  East  Saginaw,  he  soon  afterwards  became  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  lumber  (an  occupation  that  pretty  much  everybody  in 
that  region  was  interested  in  at  that  time),  and  has  since  built  up  a  vast 
and  lucrative  trade  in  that  commodity. 

Mr.  Allison  was  also  an  early  adventurer  in  the  saline  experiments  of 
the  Saginaws,  and  was  the  second  person  to  produce  a  good  article  of 
merchant  salt.  He  likewise  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
pioneer  farmers  of  the  Saginaw  valley,  having,  at  an  early  day,  cleared 
up  and  placed  under  good  cultivation  a  large  farm  near  the  city  of  East 
Saginaw,  upon  which  he  now  resides. 

Mr.  Allison's  character  is  such  as  to  command  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  his  industry,  enterprise  and  integrity  are  well 
worthy  of  emulation  by  the  young  men  of  the  country,  who  by  their 
own  exertions  expect  to  attain  positions  of  honor  and  trust. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


445 


tiac.  This  was  the  third  bank  established  in  the  Territory.  Pre 
vious  to  this  the  Bank  of  Michigan  (1817),  with  a  branch  at  Bron- 
son,  had  been  incorporated,  and  also,  in  1829,  the  Farmers'  and 
Mechanics'  Bank  of  Michigan,  with  a  branch  at  St.  Joseph's. 


COUNTRY   RESIDENCE  OF  W.  W.  BACKUS. 

The  above  engraving  represents  the  country  residence  of  Mr.  W.  Wood- 
bridge  Backus,  grandson  of  the  late  William  Woodbridge.  It  is"  situated  at 
Grosse  Point,  about  eight  miles  above  Detroit,  and  commands  an  exten 
sive  view  of  the  beautiful  Lake  St.  Glair,  the  great  highway  of  the 
nation's  commerce.  Grosse  Point  is  rapidly  becoming  the  favorite 
locality  for  the  summer  residences  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  the  metrop 
olis.  In  salubrity  of  climate,  beauty  of  scenery,  proximity  to  the  city  of 
Detroit,  and  all  that  goes  to  make  a  desirable  country-seat,  it  already 
stands  without  a  rival. 

The  earliest  settlers  were  French,  many  of  whom  were  men  of  high 
social  and  political  standing  in  la  belle  France,  but  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  to  seek  a  home  free  from  the  terrible  political  strifes  which  con- 


446  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

The  same  council  authorized  a  vote  of  the  inhabitants  to  be 
taken  on  the  question  of  organizing  a  State  government,  and  ask 
ing  admission  into  the  Union.  A  vote  was  accordingly  taken  on 
the  first  Tuesday  of  October  of  that  year,  which  resulted  in  a 
small  majority  in  favor  of  the  measure.  But  the  vote  was  exceed 
ingly  light,  and  a  question  arose  as  to  whether  it  really  represented 
the  sentiments  of  the  majority  of  the  people,  or  not.  Governor 
Porter,  in  his  message,  recommended  that,  in  view  of  the  facts, 
another  vote  should  be  taken ;  but  he  was  overruled  by  the  coun 
cil,  and  a  memorial  was  sent  to  Congress,  setting  forth  the  facts, 
and  praying  for  action  by  that  body.  It  does  not  appear,  however, 
that  the  petition  was  considered,  as  it  was  not  till  two  years  after 
wards  that  serious  measures  were  taken  to  secure  a  State  organiza 
tion. 

vulsed  their  native  land.  They  readily  appreciated  and  seized  upon  this 
lovely  spot,  and  made  it  their  home.  The  descendants  of  one  or  two 
families  retain  to  this  day  the  original  letters  patent  granted  by  the 
unfortunate  Louis  XV.  Grosse  Point  is  rich  in  historical  incident.  It 
was  the  place  most  resorted  to  by  the  numerous  tribes  of  Indians  as  their 
place  of  meeting  to  make  their  treaties  with  each  other  and  smoke  the 
pipe  of  peace.  It  was  there  that  the  fierce  and  warlike  tribes,  the  Sacs 
and  the  Foxes,  fought  their  last  and  most  sanguinary  battle,  a  battle 
which  resulted  in  the  extermination  of  the  first  mentioned  tribe.  The 
little  creek  on  whose  banks  this  battle  was  fought  took  its  name  from  the 
victors,  a  name  which  it  still  retains.  Near  this  place  is  Presque  Isle, 
where  the  lighthouse  now  stands.  That  locality  was  held  by  the  Indians 
in  sacred  veneration,  from  the  fact  of  its  being  the  burial  place  for  the 
numerous  tribes  inhabiting  this  portion  of  the  lower  peninsula.  It  was 
also  the  rallying  point  for  Pontiac  and  his  confederated  tribes  during  the 
terrible  war  which  he  waged  against  Detroit. 

Around  Mr.  Backus'  residence  are  many  of  the  oldest  landmarks,  mak 
ing  the  place  truly  historical.  In  the  front  garden,  as  will  be  seen  by  the 
engraving,  are  numerous  apple  and  pear  trees,  ranging  from  one  hundred 
and  fifty  to  two  hundred  years  old.  With  the  hammock  stretched 
beneath  the  branches  of  these  venerable  old  trees,  and  the  breeze  from 
Lake  St.  Clair  gently  fanning  the  whole  neighborhood,  there  is  no  more 
healthy  or  delightful  spot  in  Michigan.  Mr.  Backus  resides  in  this  beau 
tiful  home  during  the  summer  months,  and  when  the  chilly  winds  of 
autumn  render  the  place  too  cold  for  comfort  he  retreats  to  his  city  resi 
dence,  on  Fort  street  west. 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN.  447 

About  this  time  a  change  was  made  in  the  manner  of  disposing 
of  the  public  lands,  which  was  of  great  benefit  to  the  settlers  in 
the  West.  Previous  to  the  year  1820,  the  price  of  government 
land  was  two  dollars  an  acre.  One-fourth  of  this  was  to  be  paid 
down  at  the  time  of  purchase,  and  the  remainder  in  three  annual 
installments.  The  land  was  subject  to  forfeiture  if  these  payments 
were  not  promptly  met.  A  discount  was  allowed,  however,  of 
eight  per  cent,  if  the  whole  amount  was  paid  in  advance.  This 
system  was  found  to  be  productive  of  serious  evils.  The  hope  of 
gain  ^induced  many  to  make  large  purchases.  Some,  it  is  true, 
realized  large  fortunes,  while  others,  whose  judgment  was  not  so 
good,  were  left  without  the  means  of  paying  when  their  payments 
became  due,  and  their  lands  were  consequently  subject  to  forfeit 
ure.  This  led  to  a  total  change  of  the  system.  The  price  was 
reduced  to  one  dollar  and  a  quarter  an  acre,  and  the  whole  was 
required  to  be  paid  at  the  time  of  purchase.  This  was  attended 
with  the  desired  effects.  It  prevented  much  loss  to  the  govern 
ment,  saved  a  great  deal  of  trouble,  discouraged  reckless  specula 
tion,  and  enabled  the  honest  and  industrious  settler,  with  moderate 
means,  to  acquire  a  clear  and  unincumbered  title  to  his  lands. 

On  the  sixth  day  of  July,  1834,  the  office  of  Governor  became 
vacant,  by  the  death  of  Governor  Porter.  By  the  provision  of 
law  for  the  government  of  the  Territory  in  case  of  the  death, 
removal,  resignation,  or  necessary  absence  of  the  Governor,  the 
Secretary  of  the  Territory  was  required  to  execute  the  powers  and 
perform  all  the  duties  of  Governor  during  the  vacancy.  The 
functions  of  the  office,  consequently,  devolved  upon  the  Secretary, 
Stevens  T.  Mason. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  A  STATE  GOVERNMENT— THE  BOUNDARY  QUES 
TION — THE  TOLEDO  WAR — INCIDENTS  AND  ACCIDENTS — SETTLEMENT 
OF  THE  QUESTION — ADMISSION  OF  MICHIGAN  INTO  THE  UNION. 

THE  ordinance  of  1787  provided  that  the  Northwest  Territory 
should  be  divided  into  not  less  than  three  States,  nor  more  than 
five,  as  Congress  should  determine.  Three  States  had  already 
been  formed  from  that  Territory,  viz :  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois. 
By  that  ordinance,  and  subsequent  acts  of  Congress,  conferring 
upon  Michigan  the  benefits  contained  in  its  provisions,  Michigan 
was  entitled  to  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State  so  soon  as  her 
free  white  population  numbered  sixty  thousand.  In  1834,  Michi 
gan  took  the  preliminary  steps  to  secure  for  herself  the  rights  to 
which  she  claimed  to  be  entitled.  On  the  sixth  of  September  of 
that  year,  the  Legislative  Council  passed  an  act  directing  a  census 
to  be  taken.  The  result  showed  that  there  were  87,273  free  white 
inhabitants  in  the  Territory.  At  the  next  session  of  the  Council, 
in  January,  1835,  an  act  was  passed  authorizing  a  convention  to 
be  held  at  Detroit,  on  the  second  Monday  of  May  following. 
This  convention  was  composed  of  eighty-nine  delegates.  It  met 
upon  the  day  specified,  and  continued  in  session  till  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  June.  A  Constitution  was  formed  and  submitted  to  the 
people  in  the  October  following,  and  by  them  adopted.  At  the 
same  election,  a  full  set  of  State  officers  and  a  legislature  were 
elected  to  act  under  the  Constitution.  In  November  following, 
the  legislature  met,  and  the  whole  machinery  of  a  State  govern 
ment  was  set  in  motion.  Stevens  T.  Mason,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Territory,  and  acting  governor  after  the  decease  of  Governor  Por 
ter,  was  the  Governor  of  the  new  State. 

In  the  meantime,  the  difficulty  in  reference  to  the  southern 
boundary  of  the  Territory  was  rapidly  approaching  a  crisis.  To 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


449 


give  a  full  and  complete  history  of  this  difficulty,  and  relate  all 
the  incidents,  ludicrous  and  otherwise,  that  occurred  during  the 
progress  of  the  contest,  would  require  a  volume.  The  most  that 
can  be  done  in  the  space  allotted  is  to  give  the  leading  facts  con 
nected  with  it. 


HON.   GEORGE   VAN    NESS    LOTHROP. 

THE  name  which  heads  this  brief  article  is  a  familiar  one  in  every 
town  of  this  State,  and  widely  known  throughout  the  entire  Northwest. 
Except  for  the  sudden  political  revolution  which  swept  the  West  during 
the  last  dozen  years,  and  which  still  holds  the  great  majority  of  the  people 
beneath  the  sway  of  its  opinions,  the  name  and  abilities  of  Mr.  Lothrop 
would  doubtless  ere  this  have  had  a  national  renown.  But  having  in  early 
life  identified  himself  with  the  Democratic  party,  and  this  organization 
having  commenced  decay  shortly  after  Mr.  Lothrop  entered  that  period  of 
29 


450  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

The  origin  of  this  dispute  was  not  dissimilar  to  the  causes 
which  produced  the  several  State  and  colonial  contentions  for 
boundary  among  the  original  States  of  the  confederacy,  all  of 
which  arose  either  from  ignorance  of  local  geography,  the  unap 
preciated  importance  of  the  incipient  colony,  or  an  unpardonable 
disregard  of  the  sacredness  of  vested  rights.  In  consequence  of 
these  loose  notions,  or  inadvertence  to  rights  once  granted,  char 
tered  rights  were  frequently  conferred  by  the  Crown  of  England 
to  one  company,  and  at  a  succeeding  day  the  same  territory  was 
included  in  the  charter  of  another. 

Michigan  claimed  for  her  southern  boundary  a  line  running 
east  across  the  peninsula  from  the  extreme  southern  point  of  Lake 
Michigan,  extending  through  Lake  Erie,  to  the  Pennsylvania 
line.  This  she  claimed  as  a  vested  right — a  right  accruing  to 
her  by  compact.  This  compact  was  the  ordinance  of  1787,  the 
parties  to  which  were  the  original  thirteen  States,  and  the  Terri 
tory  northwest  of  the  Ohio  ;  and,  by  the  succession  of  parties 
under  statutory  amendments  to  the  ordinance  and  laws  of  Con 
gress — the  United  States  on  the  one  part,  and  each  Territory 
northwest  of  the  Ohio,  as  far  as  affected  by  their  provisions,  on  the 
other.  Michigan,  therefore,  claimed  under  the  prior  grant,  or 
assignation  of  boundary. 

Ohio,  on  the  other  hand,  claimed  that  the  ordinance  had  been 

his  life  when  his  talents  began  to  make  him  conspicuous  among  his  fel 
lows,  the  opportunity  for  his  political  distinction  narrowed  with  every 
year.  His  friends,  however,  with  a  passionate  devotion  rivaling  that 
which  inspired  the  enthusiastic  followers  of  Henry  Clay,  clung  hopefully 
to  him,  and  repeatedly  and  persistently  thrust  him  forward  as  their 
chosen  leader  for  congressional  honors.  Believing  him  without  a  peer 
in  point  of  professional  ability  as  well  as  in  native  talent,  they  bade  him 
lead  the  forlorn  hope  of  their  party  through  several  successive  and 
desperate  campaigns  immediately  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  war. 
With  a  gallantly  and  an  untiring  zeal  peculiar  to  men  of  his  tempera 
ment,  he  flung  himself  into  the  strife  and  did  brave  battle  for  the 
standard  under  which  he  fought.  But  as  those  familiar  with  the  rising 
political  tide  of  that  period  in  the  country's  history  well  remember,  such 
a  combat  was  like  unto  a  man  battling  against  the  billows  of  the  ocean. 
Not  he  only,  but  his  entire  party  passed  into  the  minority,  and  have 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  451 

superseded  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  that  Con 
gress  had  the  right  to  regulate  the  boundary.  It  was  also  claimed 
that  the  Constitution  of  the  State  of  Ohio  having  described  a 
different  line,  and  Congress  having  admitted  the  State  under  that 
Constitution,  without  mentioning  the  subject  of  the  line  in  dispute, 
Congress  had  thereby  given  its  consent  to  the  line  as  laid  down  by 
the  Constitution  of  Ohio.  This  claim  was  urged  by  Ohio  at  some 
periods  of  the  controversy,  but  at  others  she  appeared  to  regard 
the  question  as  unsettled,  by  the  fact  that  she  insisted  upon  Con 
gress  taking  action  in  regard  to  the  boundary.  Accordingly,  we 
find  that,  in  1812,  Congress  authorized  the  Surveyor-General  to 
survey  a  line,  agreeably  to  the  act,  to  enable  the  people  of  Ohio 
to  form  a  Constitution  and  State  government.  Owing  to  Indian 
hostilities,  however,  the  line  was  not  run  till  1818.  In  1820,  the 
question  in  dispute  underwent  a  rigid  examination  by  the  com 
mittee  on  public  lands.  The  claim  of  Ohio  was  strenuously  urged 
by  her  delegation,  and  as  ably  opposed  by  Mr.  Woodbridge,  the 
then  delegate  from  Michigan.  The  result  was  that  the  committee 
decided  unanimously  in  favor  of  the  claim  of  Michigan ;  but,  in 
the  hurry  of  business,  no  action  was  then  taken  by  Congress,  and 
the  question  remained  open  till  Michigan  organized  her  State  gov 
ernment. 

In  order  to  show  more  clearly  the  grounds  upon  which  Michi- 

remained  outside  of  active  political  life  ever  since.  Many  of  Mr. 
Lothrop's  friends,  however,  well  knowing  his  great  abilities,  his  varied 
culture,  his  unspotted  integrity,  his  public  spirit,  and  his  extraordinary 
gifts  as  a  public  debater  and  orator,  although  opposed  to  him  in  their 
political  faith,  nevertheless  sincerely  desired  to  see  him  in  the  councils  of 
the  nation.  Even  though  in  opposition  to  the  dominant  party,  they 
would  have  been  glad  if  his  superior  gifts  could  even  thus  have  been 
given  to  the  nation  at  large.  But  so  strong  were  his  political  preferences 
(or  perhaps  we  should  rather  say  connections),  that  while  scores  of  men 
were  leaving  the  ranks  of  the  Democratic  party  and  attaching  their 
fortunes  to  the  new  organization  then  rising  rapidly  into  popular  favor, 
he  preferred  to  "fling  away  ambition,"  and  give  himself  loyally,  faith 
fully,  absolutely  to  the  profession  of  his  choice.  "The  law,"  some  old 
black-letter  writer  says,  "  is  a  hard  mistress,"  and,  we  doubt  not,  Mr. 
Lothrop,  as  he  looks  back  over  his  severe  and  constant  labors  at  the  bar 


452  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

gan  based  her  claims,  the  following  recited  acts  will  be  of  interest : 
The  ordinance  of  1787  "for  the  government  of  the  territory 
of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  River  Ohio,"  declares  the 
acts  therein  contained  "  articles  of  compact  between  the  original 
States  and  the  people  and  States  in  said  territory,  and  forever  to 
remain  unalterable,  unless  by  common  consent."  This  ordinance 
defines  the  territory  to  include  all  that  region  lying  north  and 
northwest  of  the  Ohio  and  east  of  the  Mississippi  rivers.  In 
the  fifth  article  it  is  provided  that  there  shall  be  formed  not  less 
than  three  nor  more  than  five  States  within  its  confines.  The 
boundaries  of  the  three  States  are  defined  so  as  to  include  the 
whole  territory  ;  conditioned,  however,  that  if 'it  should  be  found 
expedient  by  Congress  to  form  the  one  or  two  more  States  men 
tioned,  Congress  is  authorized  to  alter  the  boundaries  of  the  three 
States  "  so  as  to  form  one  or  two  States  in  that  part  of  the  said 
territory  which  lies  north  of  an  east  and  west  line  drawn  through 
the  southerly  bend,  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan." 

The  first  act  touching  this  point,  is  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in 
1802,  enabling  the  people  of  Ohio  to  form  a  Constitution.  The 
boundary  of  that  State  is  declared  to  be,  "  on  the  north  by  an 
east  and  west  line  drawn  through  the  southerly  extreme  of  Lake 
Michigan,  running  east,  after  intersecting  the  due  north  line  afore 
said  from  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  until  it  shall  intersect 

for  the  last  thirty  years  (the  record  of  which  will  be  found  in  the  twenty- 
eight  volumes  of  our  Michigan  Reports  from  the  first  to  the  last),  will  be 
inclined  right  heartiljfrto  indorse  the  sentiment. 

With  a  mind  of  rare  native  strength,  clear  in  its  perceptions,  naturally 
inclined  towards  metaphysical  studies  (often  wandering  into  stealthy 
indulgences  of  this  sort),  yet  never  allowing  his  pursuit  of  them  to 
bear  him  away  from  a  sure  anchor-hold  on  the  ground  of  common 
sense;  gifted  with  a  beauty  and  fluency  of  speech  that  permits  us  with 
out  exaggeration  to  characterize  his  eloquence  as  certainly  Ciceronian  if 
not  Attic  ;  with  a  memory  stored  with  more  than  ample  gleanings, 
gathered  not  only  in  the  field  of  his  profession,  but  also  in  those  of 
philosophy  and  letters,  as  well  as  the  various  branches  of  natural  science, 
he  seems  to  be  not  only  well  but  lavishly  furnished  with  all  the  various 
endowments  calculated  to  build  up  and  make  a  man  of  power;  and  this  he 
is.  This,  too,  we  believe  all  his  friends  and  contemporaries  readily  con- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  453 

Lake  Erie,  or  the  Territorial  line,  and  thence,  with  the  same, 
through  Lake  Erie,  to  the  Pennsylvania  line."  The  Constitution 
of  Ohio  adopted  the  same  line,  with  this  condition :  "  Provided, 
always,  and  it  is  hereby  fully  understood  and  declared  by  this  con 
vention,  that  if  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan 
should  extend  so  far  south,  that  a  line  drawn  due  east  from  it 
should  not  intersect  Lake  Erie,  or,  if  it  should  intersect  Lake  Erie 
east  of  the  mouth  of  the  Miami  river,  then,  in  that  case,  with  the 
assent  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  ^States,  the  northern  bound 
ary  of  this  State  shall  be  established  by,  and  extend  to,  a  direct 
line,  running  from  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan  to 
the  most  northerly  cape  of  the  Miami  bay,  after  intersecting  the 
due  north  line  from  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  as  aforesaid, 
thence  northeast  to  the  Territorial  line,  and  by  said  Territorial  line 
to  the  Pennsylvania  line." 

At  the  next  session  of  Congress  the  Constitution  of  Ohio  was 
submitted  to  that  body,  and  referred  to  a  committee  of  the  House, 
which  reported  that,  "  as  the  suggested  alteration  was  not  submit 
ted  in  the  shape  of  a  distinct  proposition,  by  any  competent 
authority,  for  approval  or  disapproval,  it  was  not  necessary  or 
expedient  for  Congress  to  act  on  it  at  all."  And  it  was  not  acted 
upon  until  another  disposition  was  made  of  it,  as  we  shall  see,  in 
1805.  The  proposition  was  considered  by  all  parties  concerned,  to 

cede  him  to  be — nay,  more,  the  writer  of  this  article  does  not  hesitate  to 
assert  that  his  professional  brethren  throughout  the  State,  without  detract 
ing  from  the  merits  of  others,  would  and  do  alregflfy  unite  to  crown  him 
primus  inter  pares  —  the  leading  lawyer  of  this  State.  As  such,  he  is 
justly  entitled  to  a  page  in  this  volume,  and  being  still  in  his  prime,  it  is 
the  hope  of  his  friends  that  even  yet  in  the  upturnings  and  overturnings 
of  modern  politics,  the  State,  if  not  the  nation  at  large,  may  be  awarded 
in  some  judicial  or  other  administrative  position,  some  of  the  advantages 
of  his  great  learning  and  thorough  culture. 

A  sketch  of  his  life  would  give  his  birth  at  Easton,  Bristol  county, 
Massachusetts,  on  the  8th  day  of  August,  1817.  His  early  years  were 
spent  upon  his  father's  farm.  After  an  academical  course,  he  entered 
Brown  University,  and  graduated  under  its  distinguished  president,  Dr. 
Francis  Wayland,  in  the  year  1838.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he 
entered  the  law  school  of  Harvard  University,  then  in  charge  of  Judge 


454  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

be  of  a  distinct  character,  requiring  the  special  consent  of  Con 
gress  to  make  it  a  valid  part  of  the  Constitution  of  Ohio ;  and 
that  it  had  ever  been  so  regarded  by  Ohio,  her  repeated  applica 
tion  to  Congress  for  the  right  of  extending  her  boundary  to  the 
proposed  line  would  seem  to  demonstrate. 

Again,  the  third  section  of  the  act  of  1802  provides  that  all 
that  part  of  the  territory  lying  north  of  this  east  and  west  line, 
shall  be  "  attached  to,aand  make  a  part  of,  the  Indiana  territory." 
Again,  the  act  of  1805,  entitled  "  an  act  to  divide  the  Indiana 
territory  into  separate  governments,"  erects  Michigan  into  a  sep 
arate  Territory,  and  defines  her  southern  boundary  to  be  "  a  line 
drawn  east  from  the  southerly  bend  or  extreme  of  Lake  Michigan, 
until  it  intersects  Lake  Erie." 

In  a  legal  point  of  view,  this  would  seem  to  have  settled  the 
question,  even  if,  as  Ohio  claimed,  the  ordinance  had  no  binding 
effect,  having  been  superseded  by  the  Constitution.  The  "  con 
sent  of  Congress "  had  not  been  given  to  the  line  conditionally 
proposed  by  the  Constitution  of  Ohio.  On  the  contrary,  the  dis 
sent  of  Congress  would  seem  to  have  been  clearly  expressed  by 
this  act. 

The  territory  in  dispute  is  about  five  miles  in  width  at  the  west 
end,  and  about  eight  miles  in  width  at  the  east  end,  and  extends 

Story  and  Professor  Greenleaf.  In  the  summer  of  1839,  being  somewhat 
out  of  health,  he  abandoned  for  a  time  the  study  of  the  law,  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  came  out  to  Prairie  Ronde,  in  Kalamazoo  county,  Mich 
igan,  where  his  brother,  the  Hon.  Edwin  H.  Lothrop  (then  and  since  a 
manyof  note  in  our  State  politics  and  government),  owned  and  cultivated 
a  very  extensive  and  beautiful  farm.  Here,  for  the  next  two  or  three 
years,  he  spent  most  of  his  time  engaged  in  practical  farming,  and  in 
building  up  his  health.  In  the  spring  of  1843,  he  came  to  the  city  of 
Detroit,  and  resumed  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Joy  &  Porter, 
then  prominent  members  of  the  Detroit  bar.  The  first  case  he  ever 
argued  in  a  court  of  record,  was  the  celebrated  one  of  the  Michigan 
State  Bank  vs.  Hastings  and  others.  1st  Doug.  (Mich.)  Rep.,  225.  This 
argument  was  made  before  the  supreme  court,  and  prior  to  Mr.  Lothrop's 
admission  to  that  court;  the  court,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Joy,  having  granted 
special  leave  for  Mr.  Lothrop  to  open  the  case.  So  ably  was  the  case  pre 
sented  by  the  youthful  student,  that  the  members  of  the  court  did  not 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  455 

along  the  whole  northern  line  of  Ohio,  west  of  Lake  Erie.  The 
line  claimed  by  Michigan  was  known  as  the  "  Fulton  line,"  and 
that  claimed  by  Ohio  was  known  as  the  "  Harris  line,"  from  the 
names  of  the  surveyors.  The  territory  was  valuable  for  its  rich 
agricultural  lands ;  but  its  chief  value  consisted  in  the  fact  that 
the  harbor  on  the  Maumee  river,  where  now  stands  the  flourish 
ing  city  of  Toledo,  was  included  within  its  limits.  The  town 
originally  bore  the  name  of  Swan  Creek,  afterwards  Port  Law 
rence,  then  Vistula,  and  then  Toledo.  What  gave  the  possession 
of  this  harbor  more  importance  at  this  time  was  the  fact  that  it 
was  the  proposed  terminus  of  the  Wabash  and  Erie  canal.  The 
early  settlers  acknowledged  their  allegiance  to  Michigan  ;  but, 
when  the  canal  became  a  possibility,  and  its  termination  at  Toledo 
being  dependent  upon  the  question  whether  or  not  it  was  within 
the  State  of  Ohio,  many  of  the  inhabitants  became  suddenly  con 
vinced  that  they  had  all  along  been  residing  in  the  wrong  State. 
Others,  it  is  said,  became  convinced  that  Ohio  was  a  much  more 
healthy  State  than  Michigan,  and,  consequently,  they  coveted  the 
change  which  would  remove  them  from  the  former  State  to  the 
more  salubrious  regions  of  the  latter.  The  feeling  among  the 
inhabitants,  however,  was  far  from  unanimous,  and,  during  the 
struggle,  partisans  of  each  State  were  found  in  Toledo  who  would 
communicate  the  plans  and  movements  of  the  other. 

hesitate  openly  to  express  their  admiration  at  the  effort,  and  to  predict 
for  him  a  successful  and  brilliant  future.  This  prediction,  it  is  hardly 
necessary  to  say,  has  been  more  than  fulfilled  in  the  student's  subsequent 
professional  career. 

In  the  spring  of  1844,  he  commenced  practice  in  the  city  of  Detroit, 
having  formed  a  co-partnership  with  D.  Bethune  Duffield,  Esq.,  which 
continued  until  the  close  of  the  year  1850. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1848,  he  was  appointed  attorney-general  of  the 
State  (in  place  of  Hon.  Edmund  Mundy,  then  raised  to  the  bench  of  the 
supreme  court),  and  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  January,  1851. 
About  this  time,  in  connection  with  the  controversy  over  the  public 
schools  which  suddenly  broke  forth  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  Mr.  Lothrop 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  organization  of  an  independent  ticket,  the 
object  of  which  was  to  rally  the  popular  vote  in  support  of  our  free 
school  system.  So  earnestly  did  he  enlist  in  this  good  work,  that  he  was 


456  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

As  we  have  before  remarked,  the  approaching  organization  of 
the  State  goverment  invested  the  disputed  question  with  pressing 
importance ;  and  hostilities  on  the  disputed  territory  soon  became 
active.  In  February,  1835,  the  Legislature  of  Ohio  passed  an 
act  extending  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  over  the  territory  in 
question  ;  erected  townships,  and  directed  those  townships  to  hold 
elections  and  elect  officers  in  April  following.  It  also  directed 
Governor  Lucas  to  appoint  three  commissioners  to  survey  and 
re-mark  the  Harris  line  ;  and  named  the  first  of  April  as  the  day 
to  commence  the  survey.  Acting  Governor  Mason,  however, 
anticipated  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  Ohio  Legislature,  sent 
a  special  message  to  the  Legislative  Council,  apprising  it  of  the 
contents  of  Governor  Lucas'  message,  and  advised  immediate 
action  by  that  body  to  anticipate  and  counteract  the  proceedings 
of  Ohio.  Accordingly,  on  the  twelfth  of  February,  the  council 
passed  an  act  making  it  a  criminal  offense,  punishable  by  a  heavy 
fine,  or  imprisonment,  for  any  one  to  attempt  to  exercise  any  offi 
cial  functions,  or  accept  any  office  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
Michigan,  under  or  by  virtue  of  any  authority  not  derived  from 
the  Territory,  or  the  United  States.  On  the  ninth  of  March, 
Governor  Mason  wrote  to  General  Brown,  then  in  command  of  the 
Michigan  militia,  directing  him  to  hold  himself  in  readiness  to 
meet  the  enemy  in  the  field  in  case  an  attempt  was  made  on  the 

placed  upon  the  ticket  as  recorder  and  most  triumphantly,  elected  to  that 
office.  The  citizens  of  Detroit,  in  this  particular  struggle  and  triumph, 
owe  Mr.  Lothrop  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  ought  never  to  be  forgotten 
so  long  as  a  free  school  building  stands  within  the  city  limits.  Nor  is 
this  the  only  occasion,  when  in  times  involving  the  security  of  the  public 
welfare,  Mr.  Lothrop  has  come  resolutely  forward  in  support  and  defense 
of  the  people's  wishes.  Perhaps  no  man  ever  lived  among  us,  who  in 
such  times  was  clothed  with  such  large  power  to  lead  and  influence  the 
masses  in  the  right  direction  as  Mr.  Lothrop. 

As  already  intimated  in  this  article,  he  was  twice  the  Democratic  candi 
date  for  Congress  in  the  first  district,  once  in  the  year  1856  and  again  in 
1860,  and  on  both  occasions  defeated.  Twice  he  received  the  votes  of 
the  Democratic  members  of  the  State  legislature  for  the  United  States 
Senate,  but  that  party  not  being  then  in  the  ascendency,  the  votes  were 
of  no  effect. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  457 

part  of  Ohio  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  of  the  Legis 
lature.  On  the  thirty-first  of  March  Governor  Lucas,  with  his 
commissioners,  arrived  at  Perrysburgh,  on  their  way  to  commence 
resurveying  the  Harris  line.  He  was  accompanied  by  General 
Bell  and  staff,  of  the  Ohio  militia,  who  proceeded  to  muster  a 
volunteer  force  of  about  six  hundred  men.  This  was  soon  accom 
plished,  and  the  force  fully  armed  and  equipped.  The  force  then 
went  into  camp  at  Fort  Miami,  to  await  the  Governor's  orders. 

In  the  meantime,  Governor  Mason,  with  General  Brown  and 
staff,  had  raised  a  force  eight  hundred  to  twelve  hundred  strong, 
and  were  in  possession  of  Toledo.  General  Brown's  staff  con 
sisted  of  Captain  Henry  Smith,  of  Monroe,  Inspector ;  Major  J.  J. 
Ullman,  of  Constantine,  Quartermaster;  William  E.  Broadman, 
of  Detroit,  and  Alpheus  Felch,  of  Monroe,  Aids-de-camp.  When 
Governor  Lucas  observed  the  determined  bearing  of  the  Michigan 
braves,  and  took  note  of  their  numbers,  he  found  it  convenient  to 
content  himself  for  a  time  with  "watching  over  the  border." 
Several  days  were  passed  in  this  exhilarating  employment,  and 
just  as  Governor  Lucas  had  made  up  his  mind  to  do  something 
rash,  two  commissioners  arrived  from  Washington  on  a  mission  of 
peace.  They  remonstrated  with  Governor  Lucas,  and  reminded 
him  of  the  consequences  to  himself  and  his  State  if  he  persisted  in 
his  attempt  to  gain  possession  of  the  disputed  territory  by  force. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  1867,  and  the 
records  of  its  debates  afford  abundant  evidence  of  the  learning  and  pro 
fessional  ability  he  brought  before  that  body. 

In  1873,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Republican  Governor,  John  J. 
Bagley,  a  member  of  the  constitutional  commission,  assembled  under  his 
administration,  but  the  appointment  was  respectfully  declined. 

For  upwards  of  twenty  years  past,  Mr  Lothrop  has  been  the  general 
attorney  of  the  Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company,  and  still  continues 
to  be  their  adviser.  He  is  also  the  trusted  adviser  of  many  other  corpor 
ations  of  the  State,  and  enjoys  the  universal  confidence  of  the  people  of 
Michigan,  not  as  a  lawyer  alone,  but  as  a  public  man,  and  as  a  private 
citizen. 

In  the  limits  prescribed  to  the  writer  of  this  article,  no  opportunity  is 
given  for  even  an  allusion  to  the  more  private  virtues  and  social  qualities 
of  the  subject  of  this  notice — and  perhaps  it  is  well  that  it  is  so.  No 


458  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

After  several  conferences  with  both  governors,  the  commissioners 
submitted  the  following  propositions  for  their  consideration : 

"  1st.  That  the  Harris  line  should  be  run  and  re-marked,  pur 
suant  to  the  act  of  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  of  Ohio, 
without  interruption. 

"  2d.  The  civil  elections  under  the  laws  of  Ohio  having  taken 
place  throughout  the  disputed  territory,  that  the  people  residing 
on  it  should  be  left  to  their  own  government,  obeying  the  one 
jurisdiction  or  the  other,  as  they  may  prefer,  without  molestation 
from  the  authorities  of  Ohio  or  Michigan,  until  the  close  of  the 
next  session  of  Congress." 

Governer  Lucas  at  once  accepted  the  propositions,  and  dis 
banded  his  forces,  affecting  to  regard  the  arrangement  as  having 
been  made  with  the  President,  and  regarding  Governor  Mason  as 
a  subaltern,  subject  to  the  control  of  the  President,  through  the 
commissioners. 

Governor  Mason,  on  the  other  hand,  refused  to  accede  to  the 
arrangement,  and  declined  to  compromise  the  rights  of  his  people 
by  a  surrender  of  possession  and  jurisdiction.  When  Governor 
Lucas  disbanded  his  forces,  however,  Governor  Mason  partially 
followed  suit,  but  still  held  himself  in  readiness  to  meet  any  emer 
gency  that  might  arise. 

Governor  Lucas  now  supposed  that  his  way  was  clear,  and  that 

man,  while  he  lives,  especially  one  such  as  has  here  been  sketched,  can 
tolerate  a  public  presentation  of  his  more  private  walks  and  ways. 
Nor  is  it  necessary.  All  know  what  attractiveness  there  is  in  him  for  his 
fellow-citizens;  and  how  they  love  to  listen  and  linger  about  him  in  his  bril 
liant  moments,  whether  as  the  presiding  officer  of  some  public  banquet, 
in  the  forum  of  the  courts  while  standing  in  defense  of  some  poor, 
trembling  prisoner,  on  the  rostrum  in  the  midst  of  a  turbulent  sea  of 
excited  citizens,  or  in  the  quiet  circle,  where  lawyers,  judges,  politicians, 
editors  and  men  of  scholarly  ease  and  culture  incline  to  gather  about 
him  and  share  his  unpremeditated  and  eloquent  discourse. 

We  close  our  article  as  we  opened  it,  characterizing  Mr.  Lothrop  as  a 
man  of  power,  and  expressing  the  hope  that  he  may  long  remain  in  the 
Northwest,  an  ornament  to  his  profession,  an  aid  to  his  fellow  citizens, 
and  a  source  of  strength  to  his  country  at  large. 


HISTORY  OF   MICHIGAN 


459 


he  could  re-mark  the  Harris  line  without  being  molested,  and 
ordered  the  commissioners  to  proceed  with  their  work. 

President  Jackson,  meantime,  had  applied  to  Attorney-General 
Butler  for  his  opinion  concerning  the  power  of  the  President  over 


HON.  R.  A.  HAIRE. 

ROBERT  A.  HAIRE  was  born  in  the  township  of  Bombay,  Franklin 
county,  New  York,  July  20,  1836. 

He  removed  with  his  parents  to  western  New  York,  in  1841,  and  settled 
near  the  city  of  Rochester,  from  whence  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  with 
his  father's  family,  in  1844,  settling  near  Marshall.  They  remained  in 
this  locality  only  two  years,  and  then  took  up  their  residence  in  the 
vicinity  of  Grand  Rapids. 

Mr.  Haire  received  a  thorough  common  school  education,  and  is^a 
graduate  of  the  Grand  Rapids  commercial  college. 


460  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  contending  parties.  In  reply,  Mr.  Butler  gave  it  as  his 
unqualified  opinion  that  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Ohio, 
extending  the  jurisdiction  over  a  part  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan, 
was  "repugnant  to  the  act  of  Congress  of  the  llth  of  January, 
1805,  creating  that  Territory,  and  to  the  acts  subsequently  passed 
for  its  government,  and  its  actual  and  complete  enforcement  would, 
therefore,  involve  a  most  serious  violation  of  the  laws  of  the  United 
States."  He  also  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  act  of  the  Michi 
gan  Legislative  Council  was  a  valid  law,  and  could  properly  be 
enforced. 

Notwithstanding  this,  Governor  Lucas  ordered  his  men  to  pro 
ceed  to  run  the  line,  commencing  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
disputed  tract.  In  the  meantime,  Governor  Mason  kept  a  watch 
ful  eye  upon  the  proceedings.  General  Brown  sent  scouts  through 
the  woods  to  watch  their  movements,  and  report  when  operations 
were  commenced.  When  the  surveying  party  got  within  the 
county  of  Lenawee,  the  under-sheriff  of  that  county,  armed  with 
a  warrant,  and  accompanied  by  a  posse,  suddenly  made  his  appear- 
In  1852  he  removed  to  the  eastern  part  of  Ottawa  county,  near  Grand- 
ville,  and  engaged  in  the  lumbering  trade. 

In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  supernumary  second  lieutenant  in  the 
Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry,  then  being  organized  at  Detroit,  and  started 
for  the  front  in  December,  1862.  Mr.  Haire  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Gettysburg  and  nearly  all  the  subsequent  battles  in  which  the  army  of 
the  Potomac  was  engaged,  and  was  one  of  the  five  hundred  men  chosen 
by  General  Kilpatrick,  and  placed  under  Colonel  Dahlgren,  in  March, 
1864,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  Richmond  and  liberating  the  Union 
prisoners;  and,  for  gallantry  in  this  battle,  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieu 
tenant.  He  was  also  with  General  Sheridan  during  the  Shenandoah  cam 
paign,  and  for  meritorious  service  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  captain,  in 
December,  1864.  During  a  portion  of  the  winter  of  1864-5,  he  had 
command  of  his  regiment,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  was  immediately 
mustered  out. 

Returning  home,  he  settled  in  Spring  Lake,  Ottawa  county,  and  at 
once  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber,  being  now  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Haire,  Savidge  &  Cutler. 

In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  was  chosen  to  represent  his  district  in  the  lower 
house  of  the  State  legislature,  and  served  with  considerable  distinction 
in  that  body  during  the  session  of  1872-3. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


461 


ance,  and  succeeded  in  arresting  a  portion  of  the  party.  The 
rest,  including  the  commissioners,  took  to  their  heels,  and  were 
soon  beyond  the  disputed  territory.  They  reached  Perrysburgh 
the  following  day  in  a  highly  demoralized  condition,  and  reported 


E.  H.  TURNER. 

ELIPHALET  HASKZNS  TURNER  was  born  on  the  5th  of  October,  1795, 
in  the  village  of  Pittsburgh,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  His  father, 
Colonel  Ezra  Turner,  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  a  mail  of  note 
in  the  village. 

From  a  child,  young  Eliphalet  had  an  unusual  firm  and  vigorous  con 
stitution,  which  made  him  bold  and  fearless,  and  which,  through  after 
life,  qualified  him  to  endure,  without  injury,  the  hardships  of  the 
pioneer.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  he  was  enrolled  in  the  militia,  and 
served  under  his  father  as  a  non-commissioned  officer,  and  was  engaged 


462  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

that  they  had  been  attacked  by  an  overwhelming  force  of  Michi 
gan  militia,  under  command  of  General  Brown.  They  also 
reported  that  they  had  been  fired  upon,  and  after  performing  won 
derful  deeds  of  valor,  had  been  borne  down  by  overwhelming 
numbers  and  forced  to  retreat,  whilst  their  less  fortunate  comrades 
were  all  either  killed  or  taken  prisoners.  They  formally  reported 
these  assertions  to  the  Governor,  who,  in  turn,  reported  them  to 
the  President. 

The  President  thereupon  sent  a  copy  of  the  report  to  Governor 
Mason,  and  asked  for  a  statement  of  the  facts  "  by  the  officers 
engaged  in  the  transactions  complained  of."  Accordingly,  the 
under-sheriff  was  appealed  to,  who  made  a  very  amusing  report, 
setting  forth  the  real  facts,  which  showed  that  it  was  a  civil  force 
that  made  the  arrests;  that  there  was  no  bloodshed  connected 
with  the  affair ;  that  nine  persons  in  all  were  arrested  on  a  civil 
warrant,  issued  by  a  justice  of  the  peace ;  and  closing  with  the 
information  that  "  the  commissioners  made  very  good  time  on  foot 
through  the  cottonwood  swamp,  and  arrived  safe  at  Perrysburgh 
the  next  morning,  with  nothing  more  serious  than  the  loss  of  hats, 

in  the  battle  near  Plattsburgh,  in  1812.  In  the  year  following,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  M.  Havens,  who  bore  him  ten  children. 

Mr.  Turner,  for  a  number  of  years,  engaged  as  a  partner  with  his  father 
in  the  manufacture  of  lumber— afterwards  in  the  iron  business,  but  only 
with  partial  success. 

In  1832,  he  came  to  Michigan,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  After 
remaining  in  Detroit  a  few  weeks,  he  removed  to  Ypsilanti,  and  there 
resided  for  more  than  a  year.  While  at  Ypsilanti,  he  obtained  consider 
able  notoriety,  in  arresting  the  young  Governor  Mason,  who  in  his  haste 
attempted  to  disregard  the  quarantine  regulations,  established  to  prevent 
the  spread  of  the  cholera  in  that  village.  In  1833,  he  came  to  Grand 
Rapids,  then  just  starting  into  existence,  and  here  he  made  his  home 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  on  the  8th  of  October,  1870.  His  life, 
for  thirty-seven  years,  has  been  identified  with  the  history  of  Grand 
Rapids.  He  was  the  builder  of  the  county  jail,  and,  in  company  with 
James  Scribner,  his  partner,  built  the  Bridge  street  bridge.  Under 
Lucius  Lyon,  he  made  the  first  successful  attempt  to  drill  an  artesian 
well,  in  hopes  of  finding  brine  sufficiently  strong  to  warrant  the  manu 
facture  of  salt  at  Grand  Rapids.  Mr.  Turner  has  been  alderman  of  the 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN.  463 

and  their  clothing  like  Governor  Marcy's  breeches  without  the 
patch:' 

This  summary  breaking  up  of  the  surveying  party  produced 
the  most  tremendous  excitement  throughout  Ohio.  Governor 
Lucas  called  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature.  That  body  met 
on  the  8th  of  June,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  fulminate  an  act 
"  to  prevent  the  forcible  abduction  of  the  citizens  of  Ohio."  The 
wording  of  the  title  bears  silent  testimony  to  the  excitement  which 
prevailed  in  the  legislative  mind  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  it 
would  seem  that  they  were  fearful  that  the  under-sheriff  of  Lena- 
wee  county  was  liable  at  any  moment  to  make  a  wholesale  job  of 
it,  and  "  abduct  the  citizens  of  Ohio  "  en  masse.  The  act  made 
such  an  offense  punishable  by  imprisonment  in  the  penitentiary 
not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  seven  years.  An  act  was  also 
passed  to  create  the  new  county  of  Lucas,  making  Toledo  the  seat 
of  justice,  and  directing  the  court  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday 
of  the  next  September,  at  any  convenient  house  in  Toledo.  They 
then  solemnly  passed  an  act  accepting  the  propositions  of  the 
President's  commissioners.  Another  act  was  passed  making  an 
appropriation  of  $600,000  to  carry  these  laws  into  effect  over  the 

city,  and  held  other  offices  of  trust.  His  last  public  work  was  the  grad 
ing  and  graveling  of  West  Bridge  street. 

In  1856,  he  buried  his  wife,  with  whom  he  had  lived  about  forty  years. 
His  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Lydia  H.  Rosa,  who  bore  him  a  daughter,  and 
who  still  survives  hirn. 

We  close  this  brief  sketch  with  an  extract  from  the  funeral  discourse 
of  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Northrop,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  of  which 
Mr.  Turner  was  an  accepted  member: 

"  He  has  lived  long  among  you,  and  written  his  own  epitaph  upon  the 
mind  of  this  community.  I  think  I  say  what  you  all  know  to  be  true, 
when  I  affirm  that  he  was  an  honest  man.  He  was  not  a  rich  man,  in  the 
modern  acceptation  of  the  term,  though  he  had  a  competence;  he  was 
not  a  learned  man,  or  a  great  man,  or  a  faultless  man,  but,  may  I  not  say 
it  with  emphasis,  he  was  a  good  man.  He  loved  his  neighbors;  he  loved 
the  city  of  Grand  Rapids — it  was  his  home,  it  was  his  pride;  he  loved  all 
its  citizens,  and  its  institutions;  he  prayed  for  its  welfare  and  rejoiced  in 
its  prosperity.  He  came  to  this  city,  when  the  State  was  a  territory,  and 
the  untutored  Indian  still  lingered  upon  much  of  its  soil,  and  claimed  to 
be  its  owner.  A  few  pioneers,  with  a  keen  foresight,  had  here  pitched 


464  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

disputed  territory.  A  resolution  was  adopted  inviting  the  Presi 
dent  to  send  a  commissioner  to  go  with  the  Ohio  commissioners  to 
re-mark  the  Harris  line. 

It  was  evident  that  Ohio  was  aroused.  Her  State  pride  had 
been  wounded.  The  idea  that  the  young  Territory  of  Michigan, 
with  her  stripling  Governor,  should  successfully  defy  the  great 
State  of  Ohio,  with  a  million  of  inhabitants,  and  her  aged  Gover 
nor,  was  one  that  the  authorities  could  not  endure  with  any  degree 
of  patience  or  equanimity.  A  call  was  then  made  to  ascertain 
the  number  of  men  who  were  willing  to  go  forth  to  battle  for  the 
humiliation  of  Governor  Mason  and  the  protection  of  the  com 
missioners.  Ten  thousand  men  were  reported  as  ready  to  "  do  or 
die." 

These  proceedings,  however,  did  not  have  the  desired  effect  on 
the  authorities  or  people  of  Michigan.  On  the  contrary,  it  only 
served  to  rouse  them  to  renewed  zeal  in  the  cause,  and  they  hurled 
defiance  in  the  teeth  of  Governor  Lucas,  and  dared  him  to  enter 
the  disputed  territory. 

In  the  meantime,  the  authorities  of  Michigan  were  active  in 
sustaining  their  supremacy  on  the  disputed  ground.  Prosecutions 

their  habitations  and  determined  that  this  should  be  their  home.  The 
ground  upon  which  we  tread  was  not  open  for  settlement.  The  pioneers 
came,  guided  by  blazed  trees,  or  the  north  star,  from  Kalamazoo  to  these 
falls  of  the  Grand  river,  through  an  unbroken  wilderness.  Mr.  Turner 
was  a  man  of  very  decided  character  ;  he  had  his  own  views,  upon 
which  he  formed  his  own  opinions,  and,  when  his  mind  was  once  made 
up,  nothing  but  truth  and  duty  could  change  it.  The  pliable  and  time 
serving  might  call  it  stubbornness,  and  men  wont  to  control  others  might 
deem  him  obstinate,  but  it  was  the  true  workings  of  an  earnest  mind 
that  carried  out  its  own  convictions  into  all  the  affairs  of  practical  life. 
In  early  life,  Mr.  Turner  became  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  but,  during  his  later  years,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Presby 
terian  church,  and  he  gave  largely  of  his  means  for  its  support.  The 
large  and  beautiful  church  edifice  where  we  worship  would  never  have 
been  built  but  for  his  beneficence.  It  is  his  monument.  He  was  also  an 
honored  and  acceptable  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity." 

His  name  is  perpetuated  in  one  of  the  principal  streets  of  the  city, 
which  is  called  after  him,  and  in  a  marble  slate  in  the  Presbyterian 
church  edifice,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


465 


for  holding  office  under  Ohio  were  conducted  with  the  greatest 
vigor.  For  a  long  time  the  people  of  Monroe  county  were  kept 
busy  assisting  the  sheriff  in  executing  his  processes,  and  making 
arrests  in  Toledo.  The  partisans  of  Ohio  were  continually  har- 


HON.   N.   B.   ELDREDGE. 

N.  BUEL  ELDREDGE  was  born  in  Aurelius,  now  Auburn,  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  in  1813. 

He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  his  native  town,  and  graduated 
in  that  profession  at  Fail-field  Medical  College,  New  York. 

Mr.  Eldredge  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1837,  and  settled  in  Commerce, 
Oakland  county,  where  he  remained  for  six  years,  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  In  1843,  he  removed  to  Lapeer  county  and  took  up  his  resi 
dence  in  the  village  of  Lapeer.  Here  he  resumed  the  practice  of  medi 
cine  and  continued  it  until  1852. 
30 


466  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

assed.  Suit  after  suit  was  commenced  against  them,  and  each 
suit  was  the  breeder  of  a  score  of  others.  The  officers  of  Ohio 
made  a  feeble  attempt  to  retaliate,  but  were  generally  unsuccessful. 
Every  inhabitant  of  the  disputed  ground  was  kept  busy  in  watch 
ing  and  reporting  the  movements  of  either  the  bailiffs  of  Wood  or 
of  Monroe  counties.  Many  of  the  Ohio  partisans  were  arrested 
and  conveyed  to  the  jail  of  Monroe  county.  Sometimes  these 
arrests  were  attended  with  some  danger — always  with  great  diffi 
culty.  An  instance  is  related  of  Major  Stickney's  arrest,  which 
created  some  amusement  at  the  time.  He  and  his  whole  family 
fought  valiantly,  but  were  at  length  overcome  by  numbers.  After 
the  major  was  secured,  he  was  requested  to  mount  a  horse,  but 
flatly  refused.  He  was  then  put  on  by  force,  but  he  would  not 
sit  on  the  horse.  Finally,  two  men  were  detailed  to  walk  beside 
him  and  hold  his  legs,  while  a  third  led  the  horse.  In  this  way 
they  succeeded  in  getting  him  about  half  way  to  Monroe,  when 
the  men  became  tired  of  that  means  of  securing  him,  and  then 
proceeded  to  tie  his  legs  under  the  horse.  In  that  manner  he  was 
at  last  got  to  jail.  An  attempt  was  made  to  arrest  a  son  of  the 
major  called  Two  Stickney.  A  severe  scuffle  ensued,  in  which  the 
officer  was  stabbed  with  a  knife.  The  blood  flowed  pretty  freely, 
but  the  wound  did  not  prove  dangerous.  It  is  believed  that  this 

Two  years  prior  to  this  time,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law,  and 
in  this  year  he  was  elected  judge  of  probate  for  Lapeer  county,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854.  During  the  residence  of  Mr.  Eldredge  in 
Lapeer,  he  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  three  terms,  and  was  a 
supervisor  four  successive  years,  being  chairman  of  the  board  each  year. 

In  1845,  during  Governor  Barry's  administration,  he  was  elected  clerk 
of  the  Michigan  State  Senate,  and  was  a  representative  in  the  State  Legis 
lature  of  1848. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  civil  war,  Mr.  Eldredge  was  the  first 
man  to  enlist  from  his  county.  Immediately  following  his  enlistment,  he 
raised  and  organized  Company  "A"  of  the  Seventh  Michigan  Infantry, 
and  was  commissioned  as  its  captain  and  ordered  to  the  school  of  instruc 
tion  at  Fort  Wayne.  In  the  same  year,  1861,  the  major  of  his  regiment 
was  promoted  to  colonel,  and  Mr.  Eldredge  was  promoted  to  fill  the 
vacant  office  of  major.  His  command  having  been  transferred  to  the 
army  of  the  Potomac,  he  participated  in  a  sharp  skirmish  at  Edward's 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  467 

was  the  only  blood  shed  during  the  "  war."  The  officer  let  go  his 
hold,  and  Stickney  fled  to  Ohio.  He  was  indicted  by  the  grand 
jury  of  Monroe  county,  and  a  requisition  was  made  on  the  Gover 
nor  of  Ohio  for  his  rendition,  but  the  Governor  refused  to  give 
him  up.  On  one  occasion  an  officer  attempted  to  arrest  a  man  in 
the  night.  The  man  had  but  a  moment's  warning,  and  sought 
safety  by  flight.  He  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Maumee  river,  and 
throwing  himself  across  a  saw-log,  paddled  himself,  with  his  hands 
and  feet,  safely  to  a  "  foreign  shore."  A  very  pious  man  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  fled  to  the  woods,  where  he  lived 
many  days  in  an  old  sugar  shanty.  It  was  currently  reported, 
and  generally  believed  among  the  Ohio  partisans,  that  a  miracle 
had  been  wrought  in  his  behalf — that  "  robin  red-breasts  "  brought 
him  his  daily  food  and  drink.  The  belief  in  this  "miracle" 
strengthened  the  cause  of  Ohio  in  many  quarters  very  materially. 

A  report  of  the  stabbing  of  the  Monroe  county  officer  by  Two 
Stickney  was  forwarded  to  the  President,  together  with  the  state 
ment  that  Governor  Lucas  was  protecting  him ;  and  an  urgent 
appeal  was  made  for  assistance.  This  made  a  great  impression 
on  the  mind  of  the  President,  and  convinced  him  that  something 
should  be  done  to  prevent  serious  trouble  from  ensuing. 

Governor  Lucas  soon  after  sent  commissioners  to  Washington 

Ferry  the  day  following  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff.  About  this  time,  Mr. 
Eldredge  wrote  a  letter  home,  censuring  General  Stone's  manner  of 
transporting  troops  across  the  Potomac.  This  letter  was  published,  and 
he  was  placed  under  arrest  by  General  Stone,  and,  after  waiting  six 
weeks  for  a  trial  without  obtaining  one,  he  resigned  and  came  home. 
This  was  in  the  winter  of  1862.  General  Stone  was  afterwards  arrested 
and  confined  one  year,  for  the  same  charges  made  by  Colonel  Eldredge's 
letter.  The  legislature  of  Michigan  was  in  session  on  his  return,  and 
Governor  Blair  immediately  requested  him  to  come  to  Lansing.  He  did 
so,  and  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board.  He  served 
in  this  capacity  during  that  winter  and  in  the  following  spring  was 
appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Michigan  Infantry.  He 
immediately  joined  his  regiment,  which  was  then  at  Columbia,  Ten 
nessee,  and  served  with  them  until  1863,  being  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  where  he  had  his  horse  shot  under  him. 
Returning  home,  in  1863,  he  remained  in  Lapeer  until  January,  1864, 


468  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

to  confer  with  the  President,  and  a  correspondence  was  entered 
into  between  these  commissioners  and  the  Secretary  of  State. 
The  Secretary,  in  reply  to  an  earnest  appeal  for  interference  on 
the  part  of  the  general  government,  said  that  the  President  would 
immediately  cause  an  earnest  recommendation  to  be  made  to 
Governor  Mason,  that  no  obstruction  shall  be  interposed  to  the 
re-marking  of  the  "  Harris  line ;  that  all  prosecutions  under  the 
Territorial  act  of  February  be  discontinued  ;  and  no  further  prose 
cutions  shall  be  commenced  until  the  next  session  of  Congress. 

This  "  recommendation,"  however,  had  no  effect  on  the  action 
of  Governor  Mason.  He  was  determined  to  protect  his  Territory 
and  her  jurisdiction  at  all  hazards.  The  "  recommendation  "  of 
the  President  was  made  on  the  third  day  of  July,  and  the 
deputy  sheriff  of  Monroe  was  wounded  by  Two  Stickney  on  the 
fifteenth  of  that  month.  Prosecutions  went  on  the  same  as  before. 
When  the  President  became  aware  of  this,  he  superseded  Acting- 
Governor  Mason  as  Secretary  of  Michigan,  and  appointed  Charles 
Shaler,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  his  successor.  He  also  advised  Gov 
ernor  Lucas  to  refrain  from  any  act  of  jurisdiction  over  the 
disputed  territory  pending  the  action  of  Congress.  It  now 
became  apparent  to  Governor  Lucas  that  any  attempt  to  take 
forcible  possession  of  the  territory  would  be  stopped  by  the  mili 
tary  forces  of  the  United  States.  This  was  a  matter  of  great 

when  he  removed  to  Adrian,  at  which  place  he  still  resides.  Resuming 
the  practice  of  the  law,  he  continued  it  until  1872  as  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Eldredge  &  Walker,  and  enjoyed  the  largest  practice  of  any 
member  of  the  profession  in  Lenawee  county.  He  has  now  retired  from 
the  practice  of  law  and  engaged  in  farming. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Eldredge  was  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  Adrian  by  a 
large  majority,  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  one  term.  He  was  nomi 
nated  for  Congress,  from  the  first  district,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  by 
the  Democratic  party,  and  was  only  defeated  by  901  votes,  when  the  dis 
trict  had  previously  been  strongly  Republican,  and  eleven  hundred  negro 
votes  had  just  been  added.  This  illustrates  his  great  personal  popularity 
and  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow-citizens. 

Mr.  Eldredge  is  a  man  of  imposing  presence,  strong  determination, 
genial  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow  man,  and  popular  in  all  classes 
of  society. 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN. 


469 


humiliation  to  the  Governor  of  Ohio.  The  eyes  of  the  country 
were  upon  him,  and  he  felt  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  perform 
some  act  of  jurisdiction  in  order  to  save  himself  from  the  impu 
tation  of  having  backed  down.  A  happy  thought  struck  him  at 


CAPT.  J.  F.  MARSAC. 

JOSEPH  F.  MARSAC  was  born  in  Hamtramck,  Wayne  county,  in  the 
year  1792.  He  was  reared  in  that  vicinity,  spending  most  of  his  minor 
ity  there,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  he  spent  in  St.  Clair  county, 
between  the  years  1807  and  1812. 

His  parents  were  French,  and  emigrated  from  France  about  the  time 
of  the  revolutionary  war,  and  settled  in  Hamtramck.  His  father  was 
appointed,  by  General  Wayne,  captain  of  the  first  company  of  the 
militia  that  was  raised  in  Wayne  county,  and  served  in  that  capacity. 

While  in  St.  Clair,  young  Marsac  spent  so  much  time  with  the^Indians 


470  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

an  opportune  moment.  The  Legislature  of  Ohio  had  organized 
a  county,  and  ordered  court  to  be  held  at  Toledo  on  the  seventh 
of  September.  To  actually  hold  this  court  in  the  face  and  eyes 
of  the  military  force  of  Governor  Mason,  and  the  "  recommenda 
tion"  of  the  President,  would  be  a  grand  achievement — an  act 
of  jurisdiction  greater  even  than  re-marking  the  Harris  line.  But 
how  to  do  even  that  was  the  question.  Calling  to  his  assistance 
the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  they  devised  a  plan.  The 
result  was  that  the  matter  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Adju 
tant-General  to  manage.  He  ordered  out  a  regiment  to  act  as  an 
escort  for  the  judges  and  to  protect  them  in  the  performance  of 
their  duty.  The  judges  met  on  Sunday  afternoon,  the  sixth  of 
September,  at  Maumee,  a  few  miles  from  Toledo.  They  were  to 
proceed  to  Toledo,  under  the  escort  that  had  been  provided  for 
them,  the  next  morning,  and  hold  court.  Some  time  during  the 
evening,  a  scout,  which  had  been  sent  out  by  the  colonel  of  the 
regiment,  returned  from  Toledo  and  reported  that  twelve  hundred 
men,  under  command  of  General  Brown,  were  in  Toledo,  ready 
to  demolish  court,  soldiers  and  all,  in  case  of  an  attempt  to  open 
court.  This  report  turned  out  to  be  false ;  but  it  immediately  sub 
dued  all  the  valor  of  the  judges,  as  well  as  that  of  the  regiment 
which  was  to  escort  them.  But  it  would  not  do  to  back  out  at  this 

that  he  became  familiar  with  their  language.  On  this  account,  he  was 
engaged  to  accompany  an  Indian  delegation  to  Washington,  in  the  year 
1836,  while  General  Jackson  was  President  of  the  United  States.  He 
paid  his  respects  to  the  President  and  was  received  very  kindly  by  him. 
He  assisted  in  making  the  treaty  of  1836  with  the  Chippewas.  General 
Cass  was  then  Secretary  of  War. 

Captain  Marsac  left  Hamtramck  in  the  fall  of  1838,  and  removed  to 
Lower  Saginaw — now  Bay  City. 

The  captain,  when  removing,  took  passage  with  his  family  upon  the 
first  steamer  that  ever  came  into  the  Saginaw  river,  the  Governor  Marcy. 
To  use  his  language,  "  she  was  as  slow  as  a  scow."  She  reached  the 
Saginaw  river  on  the  23d  of  November,  1838,  and  became  fast  in  the 
forming  ice  about  half  a  mile  from  the  light  house,  and  had  to  remain 
there  all  winter. 

He  first  rented  the  house  in  Portsmouth  that  had  been  built  by  Mr.  Rice, 
and  subsequenty  occupied  by  Judge  Miller.  In  the  spring  of  1845,  he 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  471 

stage  of  the  proceedings.  The  honor  and  dignity  of  the  State  of 
Ohio  must  be  maintained.  Besides,  they  would  be  laughed  at  if 
they  did  not  hold  court.  But  the  judges  hesitated  at  undertak 
ing  so  daring  an  exploit.  The  colonel  of  the  regiment  finally 
came  to  their  assistance.  He  upbraided  the  judges  for  their  cow 
ardice  and  hesitation,  and  proposed  to  take  the  honor  of  the  State 
into  his  own  keeping.  Stepping  in  front  of  his  soldiers,  he  called 
for  volunteers  for  a  "  hazardous  undertaking."  A  few  brave  men 
answered  the  call.  The  trembling  judges  placed  themselves 
under  the  charge  of  this  forlorn  hope ;  and,  at  three  o'clock  on 
Monday  morning,  the  seventh  day  of  September,  A.  D.  1835,  they 
sneaked  into  Toledo,  hunted  up  a  school-house,  held  court  about 
two  minutes,  and  then  ran  for  dear  life  back  to  Maumee. 

Thus  did  the  State  of  Ohio  triumph  over  her  enemies.  Thus 
did  her  patriotic  sons  sustain  her  dignity.  Thus  did  her  brave 
soldiers  throw  themselves  in  the  "  imminent  and  deadly  breach." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  Governor  Mason  and  General  Brown 
were  surprised  and  chagrined.  They  had  an  ample  force  within 
reach  to  prevent  the  holding  of  a  court,  as  courts  are  generally 
held.  But  they  were  unacquainted  with  Ohio  legal  practice,  and 
did  not  look  for  midnight  tribunals,  held  in  dark  school-rooms  or 
outhouses. 

bought  land  at  the  upper  end  of  Portsmouth,  and  has  lived  there  ever 
since. 

In  the  year  1848,  Captain  Marsac  was  appointed,  by  the  Indian  Depart 
ment  under  President  Polk,  Indian  farmer  for  the  Chippewa  Indians  of 
the  Saginaw  valley.  His  duty,  under  this  appointment,  was  to  teach  the 
Indians  agriculture  and  buy  implements  for  them.  "When  General 
Taylor  became  President,  he  was  removed,  and  James  Fraser  was 
appointed  in  his  stead. 

Captain  Marsac  is  still  living,  with  a  good  degree  of  health  for  one  of 
his  extreme  age.  His  sound  constitution,  good  health,  and  long  life, 
speak  well  for  the  good  effects  of  the  climate  of  central  Michigan. 

There  is  no  one  in  northern  Michigan  who  has  a  wider  circle  of  per 
sonal  acquaintance  among  those  who  have  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
Saginaw  valley.  In  former  years,  no  one  came  to  this  region  without 
making  the  acquaintance,  if  not  the  friendship,  of  Captain  Marsac.  His 
jovial  disposition  and  his  genial  humor  made  every  one  at  home  in  his 
presence. 


472  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

It  appears  that  Charles  Shaler  did  not  accept  the  appointment 
of  Governor  of  Michigan,  as  Mr.  Mason  was  still  acting  Governor 
on  the  occasion  just  referred  to.  John  S.  Homer,  of  Virginia, 
was  soon  after  appointed  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor  ;  but  did 
not  commence  the  duties  of  his  office  till  the  twenty-first  of  Sep 
tember.  He  was  not  popular  with  the  people  of  Michigan,  and, 
during  his  stay  in  the  Territory,  appears  to  have  possessed  merely 
the  shadow  of  the  authority  of  his  office,  as  will  hereafter  appear. 
He  represented  the  conservative  feeling,  in  reference  to  the  ques 
tion  at  issue,  entertained  by  the  Washington  authorities,  and  as 
such  representative  did  not  possess  the  confidence  of  the  people. 
It  is  said  that,  in  some  instances,  he  was  treated  with  personal 
discourtesy.  His  authority  was  certainly  ignored  to  a  \  ery  great 
extent ;  and  in  May,  1836,  he  left  the  Territory,  having  received 
the  appointment  of  Secretary  of  Wisconsin,  that  portion  of  Mich 
igan  having  then  been  erected  into  a  separate  Territory.  During 
his  term  of  office,  however,  he  carried  on  a  lengthy  correspond 
ence  with  Governor  Lucas,  of  Ohio,  which  resulted  in  the  discon 
tinuance  of  the  prosecutions  commenced  by  Michigan,  under  the 
act  of  February  12th,  1835.  The  case  of  Two  Stickney,  however, 
was  made  an  exception,  and  Governor  Homer  claimed  him  as  a 
fugitive  from  justice;  but,  notwithstanding  the  action  of  the  Presi 
dent,  Governor  Lucas  refused  to  give  him  up.  No  serious  diffi 
culty  appears  to  have  grown  out  of  it. 

But  little  remains  to  be  said  in  reference  to  the  "  war."  The 
question  continued  for  some  time  to  agitate  the  minds  of  the 
opposing  parties;  and  the  action  of  Congress  was  impatiently 
awaited.  A  volume  might  be  written,  relating  the  incidents  of 
that  bloodless  struggle,  and  the  story  of  the  privations  endured 
by  the  citizen  soldiers — privations  which  were  occasionally  relieved, 
however,  by  a  raid  on  a  neighboring  hen-coop,  melon  patch,  or 
potato  field — the  ludicrous  incidents,  "  the  hair-breadth  'scapes  by 
field  and  flood,"  would  constitute  the  most  entertaining  literature 
imaginable ;  but  the  limits  of  this  volume  forbid  more  than  the 
passing  glance  we  have  bestowed  upon  it. 

The  election  to  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  and  to  elect 
State  officers,  had  been  held  on  the  first  Monday  in  October.  The 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


473 


result  was  the  ratification  of  the  Constitution  by  a  large  majority, 
and  the  election  of  a  full  set  of  State  officers.  Stevens  T.  Mason 
was  elected  Governor,  Edward  Muudy  Lieutenant  Governor,  and 
Isaac  E.  Crary  representative  in  Congress.  The  first  session  of 


HON.  GEORGE  W.   SWIFT. 

GEORGE  WASHINGTON  SWIFT  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Wayne  county, 
New  York,  May  21,  1817.  He  is  a  grandson  of  General  John  Swift,  a 
soldier  of  the  revolution,  and  son  of  Rev.  Marcus  Swift,  who  emigrated 
to  Michigan  in  1825.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  Weaver  Osband, 
also  a  veteran  of  the  revolution. 

Mr.  Swift  remained  with  his  father  upon  the  farm,  in  Nankin,  Wayne 
county,  where  they  first  settled,  until  his  twentieth  year,  performing 
labor  and  enduring  hardships  and  privations,  known  only  to  the  pioneer, 


474  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  Legislature  under  the  Constitution  was  commenced  at  the  capi- 
tol,  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  on  the  first  Monday  of  November,  and 
John  Norvell  and  Lucius  Lyon  were  elected  United  States  Sena 
tors.  A  regular  election  was  also  held  under  the  Territorial  laws 
for  delegate  to  Congress,  and  George  W.  Jones,  of  Wisconsin, 
received  the  necessary  certificate  of  election,  although  it  is  said 
that  William  Woodbridge  received  the  highest  number  of  votes. 
The  machinery  of  the  State  government  was  now  in  full  opera 
tion,  with  the  exception  of  the  judiciary,  which  was  not  organized 
until  the  fourth  of  July,  1836.  The  people  submitted  to,  and 
were  governed  by  the  State  authorities  from  this  time  forward, 
although  a  Territorial  Governor  was  also  here  in  the  person  of 
John  S.  Homer.  This  anomalous  state  of  things  continued  till 
the  organization  of  Wisconsin  as  a  separate  Territory,  and  the 
appointment  of  Mr.  Homer  as  its  Secretary.  It  does  not  appear 
however,  that  any  serious  difficulty  arose  between  the  two  Gov 
ernors.  Meantime,  application  had  been  made  for  admission  into 
the  Union  under  the  Constitution.  But  it  was  not  until  the  fif 
teenth  of  June,  1836,  that  Congress  took  action  on  the  question. 
It  then  passed  an  act  accepting  the  Constitution  and  State  gov- 

struggling  with  seeming  impossibilities  in  a  new  country,  widely  separated 
from  civilization  by  the  waters  of  the  lake.  From  his  eighth  to  his 
fourteenth  year,  there  were  no  schools  in  the  country;  and,  until  his 
twentieth  year,  opportunities  for  education  were  meagre.  At  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  returned  to  his  native  State  and  enjoyed  educational 
advantages  until  1841.  At  this  time,  he  again  became  a  resident  of  Michi 
gan,  having  married  Miss  Sarah  Pudney,  of  Saratoga  county,  New  York. 
For  some  years,  his  principal  business  was  farming,  devoting,  however, 
some  attention  to  the  study  of  the  law.  Having  never  regularly  entered 
the  practice  of  law,  he  was,  notwithstanding,  much  resorted  to  for  legal 
counsel,  and,  possessing  good  forensic  ability,  his  services  were  generally 
sought  in  matters  of  public  interest. 

He  early  displayed  rare  talents  for  debate,  and  entered  actively  into 
public  defense  of  the  reforms  of  the  day  and  soon  became  a  champion 
in  the  anti-slavery  and  temperance  movements.  Many  signal  victories 
were  achieved  by  his  eloquence  and  polemic  power.  Many  of  his  efforts 
were  pronounced  to  be  of  the  highest  order,  and  competent  judges  have 
declared  that  his  addresses  to  the  people  in  defense  of  the  war  to  sup 
press  the  rebellion  of  1861  are  among  the  best  put  forth  at  that  exciting 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  475 

ernment  of  Michigan,  and  providing  for  her  admission  into  the 
Union  as  a  State,  on  condition  that  she,  by  a  convention  of 
delegates  elected  for  that  purpose,  should  consent  to  accept  the 
boundary  as  claimed  by  Ohio,  and  receive  as  compensation  for  the 
.  loss  of  the  territory  in  dispute  what  is  now  known  as  the  Upper 
Peninsula.  This  act  could  be  viewed  by  the  people  of  Michigan 
in  no  other  than  an  odious  light.  The  value  of  the  Upper  Penin 
sula  was  then  unappreciated.  Copper  was  known  to  exist  there, 
it  is  true;  but  in  what  quantities  no  one  could  tell.  It  was 
looked  upon  as  a  barren  waste,  too  mountainous  for  cultivation, 
and  of  problematical  value  for  any  purpose.  Besides,  the  work 
of  excision  by  Congress,  it  was  thought,  had  proceeded  far 
enough.  p*By  the  act  of  1802,  Congress  had  given  the  eastern 
tract,  belonging  originally  to  Michigan,  of  more  than  a  thousand 
square  miles,  to  Ohio.  By  the  act  of  1816,  it  had  given  to  Indi 
ana  a  tract  of  between  eleven  and  twelve  hundred  square  miles, 
originally  belonging  to  Michigan.  And  now  Congress  required 
her  to  purchase  her  admission  into  the  Union  by  agreeing  to  a  still 
further  excision  of  most  valuable  territory.  This  was  the  view 
taken  by  the  people  at  the  time.  Governor  Mason,  nevertheless, 

time.  One  of  the  most  notable  of  the  many  important  discussions  in 
which  Mr.  Swift  has  been  engaged,  was  a  debate  with  a  distinguished 
New  England  divine,  who  lectured  for  several  weeks  in  his  vicinity,  to 
the  agitation  and  dismay  of  orthodox  Christians.  His  challenge  to  the 
clergy  to  discuss  his  doctrine  was  declined,  the  most  able  among  them 
declaring  that  they  disbelieved  the  doctrine  but  could  not  cope  with  its 
defender. 

After  much  persuasion  from  the  leading  members  of  the  churches,  Mr. 
Swift  consented  to  meet  that  gentleman  in  debate  on  the  following  resolu 
tion,  Mr.  Swift  taking  the  negative,  viz:  Resolved,  "That  man,  being 
mortal,  dies,  and  becomes  non-existent;  but,  at  a  time  in  the  future,  he 
will  be  restored  and  brought  to  judgment;  the  righteous  shall  receive 
eternal  life,  and  the  wicked  shall  cease  to  be  forever."  After  an  animated 
discussion,  which  lasted  five  days,  both  parties  declared  the  resolution" 
lost,  and  Mr.  Swift's  friends  realized,  as  never  before,  his  masterly 
power. 

Gratiot,  Isabella,  Montcalm,  and  adjoining  counties,  were  settled  chiefly 
by  means  of  the  graduation  act  of  Congress,  which  put  lands  that  had 
long  been  in  market  at  a  very  low  price.  As  a  result,  a  great  number  of 


476  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

issued  a  call  for  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature,  to  meet  in 
Detroit,  on  the  eleventh  of  July,  1836.  On  the  twentieth,  an  act 
was  approved  providing  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  a  conven 
tion,  to  accept  or  reject  the  proposition  of  Congress.  It  provided 
that  fifty  delegates  should  be  elected,  and  that  the  convention 
should  be  held  at  Ann  Arbor,  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  September. 
This  convention  was  composed  of  a  full  representation  of  both 
political  parties.  It  met  on  the  day  appointed,  and,  after  being 
in  session  four  days,  it  decided  to  reject  the  proposition  of  Con 
gress  so  far  as  it  related  to  the  boundary  question.  The  vote 
stood  twenty-one  for  acceptance,  and  twenty-eight  for  rejection. 
It  then  appointed  three  delegates,  to  repair  to  Washington  at  the 
next  session  of  Congress,  to  cooperate  with  our  representatives  in 
securing  measures  for  the  promotion  of  the  general  interests  of  the 
State. 

The  dissent  of  the  convention  was  very  unsatisfactory  to  a 
large  portion  of  the  people  of  the  State.  Two  formidable  parties 
had  grown  out  of  the  discussion  of  the  question.  Although  a 
decided  unanimity  prevailed  with  regard  to  the  justness  of  the 
claim  of  Michigan  to  the  territory  in  dispute ;  yet,  under  the  cir- 

very  poor  people  settled  on  them  in  a  short  time,  and,  in  consequence, 
years  of  fearful  destitution  ensued.  For  two  successive  years,  they  were 
*  relieved  by  private  contributions,  but  at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  the 
agents  left  their  field  of  labor,  greatly  excited,  being  charged  with  having 
shown  partiality  in  the  distribution  of  the  relief.  A  striking  incident, 
illustrating  Mr.  Swift's  power  of  discrimination  and  executive  ability, 
may  be  mentioned  in  this  connection.  In  the  winter  of  1859,  the  State 
legislature  made  an  appropriation  of  money,  to  be  expended  by  the 
Governor  in  purchasing  provisions,  to  be  a  loan  to  these  people.  The 
Governor  called  on  Mr.  Swift  and  gave  the  entire  distribution  into  his 
hands.  The  task  was  at  once  entered  upon  and  executed  with  vigor. 
More  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  tons  of  provisions  were  transported  by 
teams  into  the  wilderness  and  distributed  among  the  people,  to  secure  the 
payment  of  which  over  two  thousand  notes  were  taken.  This  duty  was 
delicate  and  arduous,  requiring  the  exercise  of  great  wisdom  and  discre 
tion.  After  the  supplies  were  transported  into  the  woods,  depositories 
being  made  many  miles  apart,  notice  was  given  of  the  time  when  they 
would  be  distributed.  At  each  place  of  sale,  Mr.  Swift  was  present,  neces 
sitating  many  miles  of  travel,  by  night,  through  the  dark  pine  forests, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  477 

cumstances,  the  expediency  of  retaining  or  relinquishing  her  right 
had  become  a  matter  of  serious  contention.  A  year  had  already 
elapsed  since  the  formation  of  a  State  Constitution,  and  half  that 
period  had  been  spent  by  her  delegation  to  Congress  in  fruitless 
solicitation  for  admission.  Many  began  to  despond.  One  party 
seemed  to  consider  the  participation  in  the  benefits  of  the  Union 
paramount  to  all  other  considerations.  This  idea  had  greater 
weight  at  the  time  from  the  fact  that  a  large  amount  of  surplus 
revenue  was  about  to  be  distributed  among  the  several  States. 
This,  it  was  supposed  would  be  lost  to  the  State  by  a  too  long 
delay  in  securing  admission.  Therefore,  there  was  much  to  lose 
by  delay,  and  nothing  to  gain.  With  the  other  party  these  rea 
sons  had  little  or  no  weight.  Kather  than  submit  to  the  injustice 
of  having  so  important  a  portion  of  her  domain  wrested  from  the 
State,  they  were  inclined  to  submit  to  the  inconveniences  which 
might  result  from  delay,  till  a  more  favorable  action  of  Congress. 
They  placed  full  reliance  in  the  ultimate  action  of  Congress,  and 
hoped  that  a  sense  of  justice  would  eventually  compel  that  body 
to  admit  the  State  unconditionally.  They  also  argued  that  the 
State,  having  a  present  right  to  admission,  would  have  an  equit- 

almost  destitute  of  roads.  He  performed  this  labor  in  about  three  months, 
rendered  his  accounts,  delivered  the  sureties  and  received  his  discharge 
with  the  full  approval  of  the  State  authorities.  Not  a  voice  was  lifted 
to  condemn  any  act  of  his,  but  universal  approval  followed  him  from 
the  grateful  people,  many  of  whom  wept  as  they  gave  him  a  last  farewell. 
In  the  earlier  part  of  Mr.  Swift's  career,  his  radical  opinions  and 
unswerving  adherence  to  his  convictions  of  right,  without  regard  to  per 
sonal  consequences,  provoked  much  enmity  and  opposition,  in  conse 
quence  of  which  his  friends  hesitated  somewhat  in  bringing  him  before 
the  people  as  a  candidate  for  office.  But,  after  the  organization  of  the 
Republican  party,  to  which  he  lent  an  actively  helping  hand  and  of  which 
he  became  an  able  champion,  he  received  the  nomination  to  the  State 
legislature,  and  in  the  election  outstripped  every  candidate  on  the  ticket. 
Many  of  his  life-long  opponents  voted  for  him  on  the  personal  ground  of 
ability  and  integrity.  He  served  the  State  four  years,  occupying  a  pro 
minent  position  in  the  House.  On  his  reelection,  he  led,  by  many  votes 
in  his  district,  the  great  general  who  was  elected  to  the  presidency.  Mr. 
Swift  resigned  his  seat  in  the  legislature  in  1869,  having  accepted  the 
office  of  United  States  Consul,  at  Windsor,  Canada,  which  he  still  holds. 


478  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE   STATES. 

able  right  to  her  proportion  of  the  surplus  revenue,  which  Congress 
could  not  refuse  to  grant  whenever  she  was  admitted. 

Thus  stood  parties  when  the  convention  decided  to  reject  the 
proposition  of  Congress.  The  dissatisfied  party  thereupon  resolved 
that  another  convention  should  be  held,  without  waiting  for 
another  call  by  the  Legislature.  During  the  autumn,  two  respect 
able  primary  assemblies  of  that  portion  of  the  people  assenting 
to  the  conditions  were  held,  one  in  Wayne  county,  and  the  other 
in  the  county  of  Washtenaw,  two  of  the  most  populous  counties 
in  the  State.  A  second  convention  of  the  people  was  proposed 
for  the  trial  of  the  question,  and  the  Governor  was  requested  to 
call  the  same  by  proclamation.  Although  the  convention  was 
approved  of;  yet,  as  it  was  wholly  unauthorized  by  law,  the  Gov 
ernor  declined  to  take  such  a  step.  A  convention,  however,  had 
been  decided  upon ;  and,  on  the  fourteenth  of  November,  a  circu 
lar  from  the  proper  officers  of  the  assenting  party  was  issued, 
which  recommended  the  qualified  voters  in  the  several  counties  to 
meet  on  the  fifth  and  sixth  of  December,  and  elect  delegates  to 
attend  a  convention ;  that  the  number  of  delegates  be  twice  the 
number  elected  to  the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature ;  and 

Here,  as  elsewhere  in  public  service,  he  displays  eminent  ability  and 
integrity.  Through  unwise  measures,  an  unhappy  state  of  feeling  for 
merly  existed  between  the  two  countries.  In  place  of  mutual  respect, 
distrust  and  suspicion  prevailed,  and  commerce  between  the  two  nations 
at  that  point  had  fallen  to  a  low  ebb,  but,  under  Mr.  Swift's  supervision, 
order  and  confidence  have  been  restored,  commerce  revived,  and  a  happy 
and  prosperous  state  of  affairs  inaugurated. 

Mr.  Swift  is  yet  in  the  prime  of  life,  actively  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  reform,  and  right  against  wrong  His  life  and  labors  thus  far 
have  been  devoted  largely  to  benevolent  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  poor,  the 
oppressed,  the  victims  of  wrong  and  unholy  greed,  and  in  the  interests 
of  free  schools— the  diffusion  of  intelligence,  morality  and  religion.  To 
his  influence  and  efforts,  while  in  the  legislature,  is  largely  due  the  law 
establishing  free  schools — the  more  ample  endowment  of  the  University, 
and  the  liberal  provision  which  has  been  made  for  the  various  beneficiary 
institutions,  in  which  our  State  may  indulge  a  commendable  pride. 

Mr.  Swift  has  held  many  places  of  trust  and  honor  (in  all  of  which  he 
has  commanded  and  received  public  approval),  among  which  was  that  of 
State  librarian. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  479 

that  the  election  be  conducted  at  the^proper  places,  by  the  same 
officers,  and  according  to  the  legal  formalities  governing  other 
elections.  Accordingly,  the  election  was  held,  though  generally 
unattended  by  those  who  dissented  from  the  proposition  of  bound 
ary,  or  who  considered  the  election  void  from  its  illegality.  The 
delegates  met  at  Ann  Arbor,  on  the  fourteenth  day  of  December. 
As  might  be  expected  from  a  body  thus  constituted,  a  decided 
unanimity  of  sentiment  prevailed  in  regard  to  the  vital  question ; 
and,  on  the  fifteenth,  it  unanimously  resolved  to  accept  the  condi 
tion  imposed  in  the  proposition  of  Congress.  It  protested,  how 
ever,  against  the  constitutional  right  of  Congress  to  require  this 
preliminary  assent  as  a  condition  of  admission  into  the  Union. 

The  proceedings  of  this  convention  were  immediately  submitted 
to  Congress.  As  might  have  been  expected,  the  validity  of  the 
last  convention  was  seriously  called  in  question.  A  lengthy  and 
spirited  debate  ensued,  in  which  the  whole  question  was  discussed. 
There  seemed,  however,  to  be  a  disposition  among  all  parties  to 
admit  the  State,  notwithstanding  the  irregularity  of  the  conven 
tion.  How  much  the  electoral  vote  of  Ohio  had  to  do  with  the 
action  of  Congress  in  reference  to  the  various  matters  in  dispute, 
is  a  question  not  proper  for  consideration  in  these  pages. 

The  final  decision  was  made  by  an  act  approved  January  26th, 
1837,  which,  after  asserting,  by  preamble,  that  the  people  of  the 
State  had  given  their  consent  to  the  proposed  boundaries,  in  the 
convention  of  the  fifteenth  of  December,  1836,  declared  Michigan 
to  be  "  one  of  the  United  States,  and  admitted  into  the  Union 
on  an  equal  footing  with  the  original  States,  in  all  respects  what- 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


MICHIGAN  AS  A  STATE — RESOURCES  AND  POPULATION — ADMINISTRATION 
OF  GOVERNOR  MASON  —  WOODBRIDGE — GORDON— BARRY — FELCH — 
GREENLY — RANSOM — BARRY — MCCLELLAND — BINGHAM — WISNER. 

MICHIGAN  was  now  mistress  of  her  own  destinies.  The  diffi 
culties  which  had  retarded  her  progress  had  been  removed.  The 
questions  which  had  diverted  the  minds  of  her  people  from  the 
labor  of  developing  her  resources  had  been  settled.  She  was  on 
an  equal  footing  with  the  others  in  the  great  sisterhood  of  States, 
and  it  needed  but  the  proper  development  of  her  great  natural 
resources  to  place  her  in  the  front  rank  of  greatness  and  power. 
How  well  she  has  succeeded,  the  following  pages  will  demonstrate. 

The  romantic  story  of  the  birth,  childhood  and  early  youth  of 
Michigan  is  ended.  We  have  seen  her  as  she  was  before  the  white 
man  had  penetrated  the  solitudes  of  her  giant  forests — before 
aught  beside  the  bark  canoes  of  the  savage  had  vexed  the  waters 
of  her  lakes  and  rivers.  We  have  seen  her  under  the  blighting 
influence  of  the  feudal  institutions  of  France,  whose  highest  aim 
was  to  preserve  her  forests  as  a  shelter  for  fur-bearing  animals. 
We  have  witnessed  the  change  from  French  dominion  to  that 
of  Great  Britain,  whose  policy  had  no  higher  aims,  and  was  pro 
ductive  of  no  nobler  results  than  that  of  France.  And,  finally, 
we  have  seen  the  red  cross  of  England  supplanted  by  the  stars 
and  stripes  of  our  great  Republic,  and  witnessed  the  happy  results 
of  the  enactment  of  just  laws  and  the  establishment  of  free  insti 
tutions.  It  now  becomes  our  duty  to  consider  her  as  she  is  found 
at  the  present  day;  to  patiently,  though  briefly,  trace  her  steps 
from  youth  to  maturity,  and  to  exhibit  her  in  the  greatness  and 
prosperity  she  has  attained  through  the  development  of  her 
unbounded  resources. 

From  the  nature  of  things,  the  following  pages  must  consist 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


481 


of  a  mere  compilation  of  information  from  official  documents. 
The  history  of  the  State  during  the  period  of  its  peaceful  settle 
ment,  and  progress  in  arts  and  sciences,  must  necessarily  be  devoid 
of  the  attractions  which  interest  many  readers  ;  but,  though  devoid 


SANFORD   HOWARD. 

SANFORD  HOWARD,''  late  secretary  of  the  State  board  of  agriculture,  was 
born  in  Easton,  Bristol  county,  Massachusetts,  August  7,  1805.     He  was 
the  sixth  descendant  from  John  Howard,  who  came  from  England  in 
1651,  and  subsequently  settled  in  West  Bridgewater. 
31 


482  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

of  tales  of  bloodshed,  hardship  and  suffering,  it  is  the  record  of 
the  events  which  have  made  her  great  and  powerful,  and  trans 
formed  her  solitudes  into  marts  of  commerce,  cleared  away  her 
mighty  forests,  and  dotted  her  landscape  with  happy  homes  and 
flourishing  cities. 

The  first  Governor  of  Michigan  under  her  State  organization 
was,  as  we  have  already  seen,  Stevens  T.  Mason,  a  native  of  Vir 
ginia.  He  was  elected  Governor  of  the  prospective  State  in  1835, 
and  held  the  office  till  January,  1840.  When  Michigan  was 
admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  her  population  was  about  two 
hundred  thousand.  It  possessed  an  area  of  about  forty  thousand 
square  miles,  which  was  divided  into  thirty-six  counties.  Almost 
the  first  act  that  was  passed  by  the  State  Legislature,  after  the 
admission  into  the  Union,  was  one  for  the  organization  and  sup 
port  of  common  schools.  Congress  had  already  set  apart  one 
section  of  land  in  each  township  for  this  purpose,  and  the  new 
State  was  not  slow  to  avail  itself  of  the  advantages  of  the  dona 
tion.  In  March  of  the  same  year  another  act  was  passed  estab 
lishing  the  University  of  Michigan.  As  a  separate  chapter  will 

Living  in  a  country  neighborhood,  his  advantages  for  education  were 
limited  to  three  or  four  months  in  a  year  at  a  district  school,  but  being  of 
a  studious  turn,  and  quick  to  learn,  he  supplemented  his  studies  with 
such  reading  as  assisted  him  in  laying  the  foundation  for  future  useful 
ness. 

When  quite  a  boy  he  evinced  a  decided  love  for  natural  history,  espe 
cially  that  relating  to  domestic  animals.  In  early  life  he  became 
acquainted  with  Col.  Samuel  Jaques  and  the  Hon.  John  Welles,  two  of 
the  most  noted  breeders  of  their  times.  To  this  acquaintance,  and  the 
intimate  friendship  that  followed,  the  world  is  indebted  in  a  measure  for 
much  of  the  information  disseminated  through  Mr.  Howard's  pen  during 
the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life. 

When  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  was  placed  in  a  dry  goods  and 
grocery  store,  where  he  remained  about  two  years,  when  finding  him  dis 
inclined  to  any  pursuit  but  farming,  his  father  consented  to  his  return 
home.  From  this  time  he  remained  with  his  father  in  his  favorite  occu 
pation  till  1830,  when  he  married  Miss  Matilda  Williams,  and  removed  to 
Halowell,  Maine,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  celebrated  Vaughn  farm. 
Here  he  organized  the  Kennebec  county  agricultural  society,  which  was 
the  pioneer  society  of  the  State. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  483 

be  devoted  to  this  institution,  we  will  not  stop  to  consider  it  here. 
The  Legislature  also  paid  particular  attention  to  the  mineral 
resources  of  the  State.  It  appropriated  $29,000  for  a  geological 
survey,  and  appointed  Dr.  Douglass  Houghton  State  geologist. 
Internal  improvements  also  received  a  large  share  of  attention.  A 
board  of  seven  commissioners  was  established,  of  which  the  Gover 
nor  was  made  president.  This  board  authorized  a  number  of  sur 
veys  for  railroads.  Three  routes  were  surveyed  through  the  State, 
and  eventually  became  known  as  the  Michigan  Central,  the 
Michigan  Southern,  and  Detroit  and  Milwaukee.  The  latter  road, 
however,  was  originally  intended  to  have  Port  Huron  for  its  east 
ern  terminus.  Acts  were  at  the  same  time  passed  incorporating 
the  roads  between  Gibraltar  and  Clinton,  and  Detroit  and  Shia- 
wassee.  Thus  was  the  energy  and  public  spirit  of  the  citizens  of 
the  new  State  manifested,  and  thus  was  the  first  start  made  in  the 
grand  system  of  railroads  which  now  traverse  the  State  in  every 
direction.  The  next  year  appropriations  were  made  for  the  sur 
vey  of  the  St.  Joseph,  Kalamazoo  and  Grand  rivers,  with  the  view 
of  improving  their  navigation.  In  1839  the  militia  of  the  State 

In  1837,  Mr.  Howard  removed  with  his  family  to  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
where  he  became  engaged  in  farming,  and  also  for  some  years  conducted 
an  agricultural  department  in  the  Zanesvttle  Gazette.  Here,  too,  he  was 
chiefly  instrumental  in  establishing  the  Muskinguni  county  agricultural 
society. 

In  1844,  he  was  offered  and  accepted  a  position  as  associate  editor  of 
the  Albany  Cultivator. 

January  4,  1852,  Mr.  Howard  removed  to  Boston,  Massachusetts,  to 
take  charge  of  the  agricultural  department  of  the  Boston  Cultivator,  which 
position  he  maintained  with  benefit  to  its  readers  and  satisfaction  to  its 
proprietor  during  twelve  years. 

In  1857,  the  Massachusetts  society  for  the  promotion  of  agriculture 
decided  to  make  an  importation  of  stock  for  the  improvement  of  their 
domestic  animals,  and  Mr.  Howard  was  selected  for  that  purpose  to  visit 
England,  Scotland,  Ireland  and  France.  He  performed  his  mission  in  a 
highly  satisfactory  manner,  and  made  another  trip  to  Europe  for  a  simi 
lar  purpose,  and  while  there  received  marked  attention  from  many  of  the 
first  people  of  the  countries  in  which  he  traveled.  Returning,  he  contin 
ued  to  edit  the  Boston  Cultivator  until  he  removed  to  Michigan. 

In  February,  1864,  Mr.  Howard  was  elected  secretary  of  the  Michigan 


484  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

was  organized,  and  eight  divisions,  with  two  brigades  of  two  regi 
ments  each,  were  provided  for.  Another  event  of  this  year  was 
the  completion  of  the  Jackson  penitentiary.  With  this  year  also 
terminated  the  administration  of  Governor  Mason,  who  had  been 
twice  elected  to  the  chief  magistracy  of  the  State.  The  official 
report  in  reference  to  the  educational  interests  of  the  State  shows 
that  nearly  thirty  thousand  pupils  attended  the  common  schools 
that  year,  and  that  the  amount  of  money  expended  was  over 
eighteen  thousand  dollars.  The  agricultural  statistics  published 
in  1838  gives  the  following  figures  for  that  year:  Rye,  21,944 
bushels;  oats,  1,116,910;  buckwheat,  6,422;  flax,  43,826  pounds; 
hemp,  524 ;  neat  cattle,  89,610 ;  horses,  14,059 ;  sheep,  22,684 ; 
swine,  109,096. 

The  second  Governor  of  Michigan  was  William  Woodbridge. 
He  served  in  that  capacity  from  January,  1840,  to  February,  1841, 
when  he  resigned  to  accept  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate. 
J.  Wright  Gordon  was  Lieutenant-Govern  or,  and  became  acting 
Governor  upon  the  resignation  of  Governor  Woodbridge.  The 
principal  events  which  occurred  during  the  joint  administration 

State  board  of  agriculture,  and,  in  the  May  following,  he  removed  from 
Boston  to  Lansing,  Michigan,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office. 

His  removal  from.  Boston  was  the  occasion  of  a  dinner  and  presenta 
tion,  at  which  time  he  received  from  the  Massachusetts  agricultural  club 
a  massive  silver  pitcher. 

Mr.  Howard's  labors  in  Michigan  were  more  in  the  interests  of  the 
agriculture  of  the  State  at  large  than  with  the  State  agricultural  college. 
He  was,  however,  a  member  of  the  faculty,  and  took  his  turn  in  the 
general  lectures  delivered  before  the  college,  and  his  addresses  were 
always  highly  welcome  by  his  audience.  He  did  very  much  to  improve 
the  agriculture  of  the  State,  and  in  these  labors  became  widely  acquainted 
with  the  agriculturists,  fruit  growers  and  stock  raisers  of  Michigan. 

In  the  spring  of  1871,  Mr.  Howard  was  stricken  with  partial  paralysis, 
affecting  his  right  side.  He  went  from  his  office,  where  the  fatal  disease 
had  found  him  at  his  work,  to  his  home,  where,  after  an  eight  days' 
illness,  he  died  on  the  9th  of  March. 

The  newspapers  throughout  the  entire  country  paid  their  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and  resolutions  of  regret  and 
sympathy  on  his  death  were  passed  by  both  branches  of  the  State  legis 
lature  and  by  the  State  board  of  agriculture. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


485 


were  as  follows :  The  railroad  from  Detroit  to  Ann  Arbor,  a  dis 
tance  of  forty  miles,  was  completed ;  branches  of  the  University 
were  established  at  Detroit,  Pontiac,  Monroe,  Niles,  Kalamazoo, 
Grand  Rapids,  Jackson,  White  Pigeon,  and  Tecumseh.  The 


HON.   D.   HORTON. 

DEXTER  HORTON,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Fenton,  Michigan,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  Groveland,  Oakland  county,  Michigan,  in  1837,  on  the 
farm  where  his  father,  H.  W.  Horton,  now  resides. 

His  education  was  mostly  acquired  in  the  school  district  where  he  was 
born.  At  the  age  of  fourteen,  he  was  sent  to  Albion  college,  but  was  so 
given  to  practical  joking  that  his  stay  there  was  of  short  duration. 
While  there  he  was  acknowledged  to  be  a  good  student,  being  marked 
perfect  in  nearly  all  his  studies;  was  well  liked  by  his  teachers  and  fellow 
students,  but  was  so  constantly  into  mischief,  that  they  were  obliged  to 
expel  him.  When  he  left  college  he  was  president  of  the  Eclectic  and 


486  GENERAL   HISTOEY   OF   THE   STATES. 

population  of  the  State  exceeded  two  hundred  and  twelve  thou 
sand,  and  the  leading  cities  claimed  the  following  numbers: 
Detroit,  nine  thousand  one  hundred  ;  Ypsilanti,  two  thousand  four 
hundred ;  Pontiac,  nineteen  hundred ;  Marshall,  seventeen  hun 
dred  and  sixty-three,  and  Monroe  seventeen  hundred  and  three. 

To  denote  the  growth  of  the  material  wealth  of  the  State,  we 
present  the  following  statistics,  gathered  in  1841 :  The  average 
price  of  wheat  was  seventy  cents  a  bushel,  and  the  crop  amounted 
to  $2,100,000;  corn  was  sold  for  thirty  cents,  and  that  crop 
amounted  to  $810,000  ;  oats,  twenty  cents,  and  the  amount  $800,- 
000 ;  hay,  five  dollars  per  ton,  and  the  amount  $750,000 ;  pork 
was  sold  for  ten  cents  per  pound,  and  amounted  to  $900,000  ;  the 
fur  trade  amounted  to  $425,000;  the  potato  crop  to  2,051,000 
bushels  ;  whisky  and  wines,  $400,000  ;  maple  sugar,  $83,151  ;  the 
fish  trade,  $192,000 ;  wool,  $70,000 ;  dairies,  $300,000,  and  home 
made  goods,  $100,000.  The  exports  for  that  year  amounted  to 
over  four  millions  of  dollars  ;  and,  as  the  result  of  the  distribution 
act  of  Congress,  the  State  became  possessed  of  five  hundred  thou 
sand  acres  of  public  lands,  many  portions  of  which  were  selected 
with  great  care,  and  were  to  become  the  foundation  of  an  import 
ant  revenue.  Associated  with  the  administration  of  Governor 

Atheniades  societies.  After  his  departure  from  college  his  time  was 
occupied  in  teaching  school  winters,  and  farming  summers,  until  he 
arrived  at  his  majority,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  at  Fenton,  Genesee 
county,  where  he  now  resides. 

At  this  time,  his  whole  capital  consisted  of  two  colts  and  fifteen  bags 
of  corn.  But  being  an  energetic  business  man,  he  soon  acquired  a  com 
petency,  and  has  ever  used  his  means  to  increase  the  prosperity  of  his 
town.  He  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  flour,  grain  and  wool,  and,  within 
the  last  three  years,  has  built  up  one  of  the  largest  retail  trades,  in  farm 
ing  implements,  that  there  is  in  the  State.  His  great  energy  was  shown 
in  a  large  procession  of  farmers  and  farming  machines  which  paraded 
the  streets  of  Fenton,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1873.  This  procession  was 
very  highly  spoken  of  at  the  time  in  the  local  papers,  for  its  numbers, 
beautiful  display  of  all  kinds  of  farming  implements,  decorated  with 
banners,  and  for  the  business  ingenuity  of  Mr.  Horton  in  organizing  it, 
and  surprising  the  people  of  Fenton  by  its  unexpected  entrance  into 
their  village. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.        .  487 

Gordon  was   the  reorganization   of  the   Grand  Lodge    of  Free 
Masons,  with  the  constitutional  number  of  lodges. 

Governor  Gordon  was  succeeded  by  John  S.  Barry,  who  served 
from  1841  to  1845.  During  the  first  year  of  his  term,  the  Uni 
versity  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  students.  The  Central 
and  Southern  railroads  were  now  being  rapidly  constructed,  and 
general  progress  was  everywhere  in  great  activity.  In  1842,  the 
number  of  pupils  reported  as  attending  the  common  schools  was 
nearly  fifty-eight  thousand.  In  1843,  a  State  land  office  was  estab 
lished  at  Marshall,  which  was  invested  with  the  charge  and  dis 
position  of  all  the  lands  belonging  to  the  State.  In  1844,  the 
taxable  property  of  the  State  was  found  to  be  $28,554,282,  the  tax 
being  at  the  rate  of  two  mills  on  the  dollar.  The  expenses  of  the 
State  were  only  seventy  thousand  dollars,  while  the  income  from 
the  two  railroads  was  nearly  $300,000.  The  University  had 
already  become  so  prosperous  that  its  income  was  ample  to  pay 
the  interest  on  the  University  debt ;  and  the  amount  of  money 
which  the  State  was  able  to  loan  to  the  several  progressing  rail 
roads  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  Efforts  were 
made  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  common  schools,  with  good 

Mr.  Horton  was  from  boyhood  an  active  and  shrewd  worker  in  politics. 
He  first  acted  with  the  Whigs,  but  upon  the  organization  of  the  Repub 
lican  party,  he  espoused  their  cause,  and,  believing  his  party  right,  he 
earnestly  worked  for  its  triumph.  In  1861,  a  struggle  occurred  for  the 
appointment  of  a  postmaster  in  Fenton.  Mr.  Horton,  although  only 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  became  an  applicant  for  the  office,  and,  not 
withstanding  another  person  received  the  recommendation  of  the  repre 
sentative  in  congress  from  that  district,  Mr.  Horton  secured  the 
appointment.  In  1863,  when  the  Fifth  Michigan  Cavalry  was  at  Brandy 
Station,  Virginia,  he  went  to  that  place  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting,  but 
before  doing  this,  he  was  informed  that  he  could  have  an  appointment 
from  President  Lincoln  as  captain  and  commissary  of  subsistence  in  the 
United  States  volunteers,  liesigning  his  postmastership,  he  at  once 
accepted  of  this  position,  reported  to  General  Thomas  for  duty,  and 
remained  with  the  armies  of  the  Tennessee  and  Georgia  until  they  were 
disbanded.  While  in  the  army,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  major, 
by  President  Lincoln,  for  efficient  and  meritorious  services. 

At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  reappointed  postmaster  at  Fenton,  but 


488  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

results.  In  1845,  the  population  of  the  State  was  more  than  three 
hundred  thousand. 

Governor  Barry  was  succeeded  by  Alpheus  Felch,  who  served 
the  State  in  the  capacity  of  Governor  from  1845  till  1847.  The 
important  events  under  his  administration  may  be  summed  up  as 
follows :  The  two  railroads  belonging  to  the  State  were  sold  to 
private  corporations — the  Central  for  two  millions  of  dollars,  and 
the  Southern  for  five  hundred  thousand  dollars.  In  1846,  the 
University  library  was  enriched  with  a  choice  collection  of  five 
thousand  volumes,  purchased  in  Europe.  These  books  were  much 
needed  by  the  University,  and  added  largely  to  its  usefulness. 
The  exports  of  the  State  for  1846  amounted  to  $4,647,608 ;  the 
aggregate  capacity  of  vessels  enrolled  in  the  collection  district 
of  Detroit  was  26,928  tons ;  the  steam  vessels  numbering  8,400, 
and  the  sailing  vessels  18,527 — the  whole  giving  employment  to 
eighteen  thousand  seamen.  In  1847,  the  counties  in  the  State 
numbered  thirty-nine,  and  the  townships  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
five,  of  which  two  hundred  and  seventy  were  supplied  with  good 
libraries,  containing  in  the  aggregate  thirty-seven  thousand  vol 
umes.  The  pupils  in  the  common  schools  numbered  ninety -eight 
thousand,  and  in  the  2,869  districts  were  employed  twelve  hun 
dred  male  teachers,  and  nearly  two  thousand  female  teachers. 
On  the  third  of  March,  1847,  Governor  Felch  resigned  his  posi 
tion  as  Governor  to  accept  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate, 
whereupon  Lieu  tenant -Governor  "W.  L.  Greenly  assumed  the 

was  removed  by  President  Johnson,  for  political  reasons.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  soldiers'  convention,  at  Chicago,  that  nominated  General 
Grant  for  the  presidency. 

In  1867,  Mr.  Horton  was  appointed  assistant  sergeant-at-arms  of  the 
State  senate,  and,  in  November,  1869,  he  was  elected  a  representative  to 
the  State  legislature.  In  1871,  he  was  nominated,  but  having 'voted  at 
the  former  session  of  that  body  for  the  adoption  of  the  fourteenth 
amendment  to  the  United  States  constitution,  and  advocating  the  election 
of  a  candidate  to  the  United  States  senate,  who  was  unpopular  in  his 
district,  he  was  defeated  by  thirty  one  votes. 

Mr.  Horton  is  a  man  of  great  personal  popularity,  unswerving  honesty, 
fine  social  qualities  and  winning  manners.  He  has  great  business  tact 
and  energy,  and  is  of  inestimable  value  to  his  town. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


489 


duties  of  the  executive.  During  the  latter's  administration,  the 
war  with  Mexico  commenced  and  terminated  ;  and,  in  answer  to  a 
requisition  from  the  War  Department,  Michigan  furnished  one 
regiment  of  volunteers,  commanded  by  Thomas  W.  Stockton,  and 


HON.  GEO.  E.  HUBBARD. 

GEORGE  E.  HUBBARD,  son  of  Mr.  Alonzo  Hubbard,  was  born  in  1833, 
at  Hamilton,  in  the  State  of  New  York.  In  1834,  the  family  removed  to 
Detroit,  Michigan,  where  they  continued  five  years.  In  1838,  they 
removed  to  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  and  in  1848,  to  Cleveland,  in  the 
same  State,  where  he  graduated  at  the  high  school  and  subsequently  at 
the  mercantile  college  of  E.  G.  Folson.  He  then  learned  the  tinner's 
trade,  serving  three  years  in  the  shop  of  Mr.  W.  L.  Marvin.  At  the  ter 
mination  of  his  apprenticeship  he  became  foreman. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Hubbard  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  and  soon  became  clerk  in  the  hardware  store  of  Mr.  C.  Metz.  The 


490  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

one  independent  company,  at  a  cost  of  about  ten  thousand  five 
hundred  dollars. 

Governor  Greenly  was  succeeded  by  Epaphroditus  Ransom, 
who  served  the  State  from  1847  till  November,  1849.  We  sum 
up  the  events  and  affairs  of  the  State  under  his  administration  as 
follows :  The  Asylum  for  the  Insane  was  established,  as  also  the 
Asylum  for  the  Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind.  Both  of  these  institutes 
were  liberally  endowed  with  lands,  and  each  of  them  placed  in 
charge  of  a  board  of  five  trustees.  The  appropriation  in  1869 
for  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  blind  amounted  to  $81,500.  On  the 
first  of  March,  1848,  the  first  telegraph  line  was  completed  from 
New  York  to  Detroit,  and  the  first  dispatch  transmitted  on  that 
day.  The  following  figures  show  the  progress  in  agriculture: 
The  land  reported  as  under  cultivation  in  1848  was  1,437,460 
acres ;  of  wheat  there  were  produced  4,739,300  bushels ;  other 
grains,  8,197,767  bushels;  wool,  1,645,756  pounds ;  maple  sugar, 
1,774,369  pounds ;  horses,  52,305  ;  cattle,  210,268  ;  swine,  152,541 ; 
sheep,  610,534  ;  while  the  flour  mills  numbered  two  hundred  and 
twenty-eight,  and  the  lumber  mills  amounted  to  seven  hundred  and 
thirty.  In  1847,  an  act  was  passed  removing  the  Legislature  from 
Detroit  to  Lansing,  and  temporary  buildings  for  the  use  of  the 
Legislature  were  immediately  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $12,450. 

Governor  Hansom  was  succeeded  by  John  S.  Barry,  who  was 
again,  and  for  a  third  term,  elected  Governor  of  the  State  of 

same  year,  lie  was  married  to  Christiana,  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Landreth, 
of  Cleveland.  In  September,  1856,  he  removed  to  Grand  Haven,  where  he 
started  a  small  hardware  store,  with  a  stock  worth  less  than  one  thousand 
dollars.  In  1858,  Mr.  Hubbard  purchased  the  interest  in  the  business 
hitherto  held  by  Mr.  C.  Metz,  the  stock  then  amounting  to  over  five 
thousand  dollars.  He  continued  the  business  until  1866,  when  Mr. 
George  E.  Miller  joined  him  in  a  partnership  which  continued  two  years. 
He  also  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  A.  J.  Emlaw,  who  carried  on  a 
hardware  business  in  Muskegon.  At  the  end  of  two  years,  Mr.  Emlaw 
was  succeeded  in  the  Muskegon  business  by  Mr.  John  H.  Landreth, 
brother  of  Mrs.  George  E.  Hubbard.  He  continued  it  three  years. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Miller  joined  the  firm,  the  stock  was  valued  at  sixteen 
thousand  dollars.  Mr.  Landreth  took  an  interest  in  the  Grand  Haven 
business  in  1872,  and  continued  in  it  one  year,  since  which  time  the  con- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  491 

Michigan.  He  continued  in  office  till  November,  1851.  During 
this  administration  a  Normal  School  was  established  at  Ypsi- 
lanti,  which  was  endowed  with  lands  and  placed  in  charge  of  a 
board  of  education,  consisting  of  six  persons ;  a  new  Constitution 
for  the  government  of  the  State  was  adopted,  and  the  "  Great  Rail 
road  Conspiracy  Case  "  was  tried.  This  grew  out  of  a  series  of 
lawless  acts  which  had  been  committed  upon  the  property  of  the 
Michigan  Central  Railroad  Company,  along  the  line  of  their  road, 
and,  finally,  the  burning  of  their  depot,  at  Detroit,  in  1850.  In 
1851,  thirty-seven  men  were  brought  to  trial,  and  of  them  twelve 
were  convicted.  The  conspirators  were  defended  by  William  H. 
Seward,  of  New  York,  and  the  prosecution  was  conducted  by 
Alex.  D.  Fraser,  of  Detroit.  Judge  Warner  Wing  presided. 

Robert  McClelland  [followed  Barry  into  the  executive  chair, 
and  served  as  Governor  from  1851  until  March,  1853,  when  he 
resigned  to  accept  a  position  in  the  Cabinet  of  President  Pierce, 
as  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  On  his  retirement,  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  Andrew  Parsons,  became  the  acting  governor,  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  until  November,  1854. 

Kingsley  S.  Bingham  was  the  next  Governor  of  Michigan.  He 
served  from  November,  1854,  to  November,  1858.  With  regard 
to  this  administration  we  copy  from  the  "  Red  Book  "  as  follows : 
The  most  notable  event  of  Governor  Bingham's  first  term  was  the 
completion  of  the  ship  canal,  at  the  Falls  of  St.  Mary.  In  1852, 

cern  has  been  carried  on  by  Mr.  Hubbard,  the  capital  invested  being 
about  thirty  thousand  dollars. 

In  1870,  Mr.  Hubbard  erected  the  first  brick  three-story  building  in  the 
city,  and  the  completion  of  the  building  was  celebrated  in  February, 
1871,  by  the  largest  party  ever  gathered  together  in  Grand  Haven,  con 
sisting  of  friends  from  all  parts  of  Michigan  and  some  from  Illinois, 
Ohio  and  Wisconsin. 

In  1872,  Mr.  Hubbard  was  elected  mayor,  on  the  Republican  ticket, 
when  it  was  conceded  there  was  a  Democratic  majority  of  one  hundred 
in  the  city.  In  the  spring  of  1873,  he  was  reelected  mayor,  a  position  he 
still  continues  to  fill  with  honor  to  himself  and  the  general  satisfaction 
of  his  fellow-citizens. 

As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Hubbard  ranks  high,  and  is  among  the  most 
successful.  He  is  persevering,  energetic  and  enterprising.  He  has 


492  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

August  twenty-sixth,  an  act  of  Congress  was  approved,  granting 
to  the  State  of  Michigan  seven  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  acres 
of  land,  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  ship  canal  between 
Lakes  Huron  and  Superior.  In  1853,  the  Legislature  accepted  the 
grant,  and  provided  for  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  select 
the  donated  lands,  and  to  arrange  for  building  the  canal.  A  com 
pany  of  enterprising  men  was  formed,  and  a  contract  was  entered 
into,  by  which  it  was  agreed  that  the  canal  should  be  finished 
in  two  years ;  and  the  work  proceeded.  Every  article  of  con 
sumption,  machinery,  working  implements  and  materials,  timber 
for  the  gates,  stones  for  the  locks,  as  well  as  men  and  supplies, 
had  to  be  transported  to  the  site  of  the  canal  from  Detroit, 
Cleveland,  Chicago,  and  other  lake  ports.  The  rapids  which  had 
to  be  surmounted  have  a  fall  of  seventeen  feet,  and  are  about  a 
mile  long.  The  length  of  the  canal  is  less  than  one  mile,  its 
width  one  hundred  feet,  depth  twelve  feet,  and  it  has  two  locks  of 
solid  masonry.  In  May,  1855,  the  work  was  completed,  accepted 
by  the  commissioners,  and  formally  delivered  to  the  State  authori 
ties.  The  disbursements  on  account  of  constructing  the  canal 
and  selecting  the  lands  amounted  to  $999,802;  while  the  lands 
which  were  assigned  to  the  company,  and  selected  through  the 
agency  at  the  Sault,  as  well  as  certain  lands  in  the  upper  and 
lower  peninsulas,  filled  to  an  acre  the  government  grant.  The 
opening  of  this  canal  was  a  most  important  event  in  the  history 
of  the  improvements  of  this  State.  It  was  a  valuable  link  in 

acquired  a  large  social,  and  consequently  political  influence,  mainly  by 
his  straightforward,  honorable  dealing  and  accommodating  spirit.  He 
is  a  valuable  citizen,  paving  aided,  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability,  both 
public  and  private  enterprises  calculated  to  advance  the  interests  of 
the  city. 

As  a  presiding  officer,  he  has  never  been^  equaled  in  the  common  coun 
cil,  having  a  good  knowledge  of  parliamentary  practice  and  a  nice  sense 
of  justice  and  impartiality. 

As  a  member  of  the  ancient  order  of  Knight  Templars,  he  enjoys  the 
unbounded  confidence  of  the  fraternity. 

As  a  citizen  and  neighbor,  he  is  known  to  be  a  friend,  especially  to  the 
laboring  portion  of  the  community,  among  whom  he  is  exceedingly 
popular,  while  his  standing  in  commercial  circles  needs  no  encomium. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  493 

the  chain  of  lake  commerce,  and  particularly  important  to  the 
interests  of  the  upper  peuinsula  of  Michigan. 

Moses  Wisner  was  the  next  Governor  of  Michigan.  He  served 
from  1858  to  November,  1860.  He  was  succeeded  by  Austin 
Blair,  whose  connection  with  the  State  during  the  progress  of  the 
civil  war,  properly  brings  any  notice  of  his  administration  within 
the  scope  of  the  records  of  that  bloody  event. 

Turning  from  the  routine  of  political  and  legislative  records,  we 
will  pass  on  to  her  struggles  and  triumphs  during  the  great 
rebellion. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  BLAIR — THE  WAR  OP  THE  REBELLION 
— PATRIOTIC  ACTION  OF  MICHIGAN  —  THE  TROOPS  SENT  TO  THE 
FIELD — THE  DRAFT— GOVERNOR  CRAPO'S  ADMINISTRATION — CLOSE 
OF  THE  WAR— THE  TROOPS  RETURN  HOME — FINANCIAL  CONDITION 
OF  THE  STATE. 

AUSTIN  BLAIR  was  the  thirteenth  Governor  of  Michigan  under 
the  State  organization.  The  principal  events  occurring  under  his 
administration  were  those  connected  with  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 
To  give  a  complete  history  of  the  events  of  that  trying  period,  to 
enumerate  the  heroic  deeds  of  the  brave  sons  of  Michigan,  recount 
their  struggles  and  triumphs,  and  place  their  record  on  the  pages 
of  history  as  it  deserves,  would  require  many  volumes.  But  that 
record  would  form  some  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  annals  of 
this  nation. 

Michigan  soldiers  were  among  the  most  prompt  to  offer  their 
services  when  the  first  gun  was  fired  on  Fort  Sumter,  and  were 
among  the  last  to  leave  the  field  after  the  last  rebel  had  laid  down 
his  arms.  They  were  among  those  who  first  crossed  the  Long 
Bridge  and  captured  Alexandria.  They  were  under  command  of 
the  gallant  and  lamented  Richardson,  who  first  opened  fire  at 
Blackburn's  Ford,  near  Bull  Run.  They  were  with  McClellau, 
in  "West  Virginia,  in  1861.  In  1862  they  were  in  South  Caro 
lina  and  Georgia,  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  Peninsula, 
and  in  Maryland  ;  with  Banks  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  with 
Burnside  in  Virginia,  with  Butler  in  Louisiana,  and  with  Pope  in 
Missouri.  In  1863  they  bore  a  gallant  part  in*  the  campaign  in 
Virginia  under  Hooker,  and  Meade,  in  Pennsylvania.  They 
assisted  in  the  defense  of  Knoxville,  under  Burnside ;  in  the  cap 
ture  of  Vicksburg,  by  Grant ;  and  in  the  raid  on  Richmond,  by 
Kilpatrick.  They  were  with  Rosecrans,  in  his  campaign  against 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  495 

Chattanooga,  and  did  gallant  service,  under  other  generals,  in 
Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  In  the  closing 
years  of  the  war  they  were  with  Grant,  in  his  march  against 
Richmond  ;  with  Sherman,  in  his  march  "to  the  sea,  and  with  Sher 
idan,  in  his  campaign  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  They  assisted 
in  the  defense  of  Nashville,  under  Thomas ;  and  were  with  Wil 
son  and  Stoneman,  in  their  raids  in  Georgia  and  North  Carolina. 
They  were  at  the  capture  of  Mobile ;  and,  after  the  surrender  of 
Lee,  served  in  Texas  and  against  the  Indians  in  the  West.  Mich 
igan  soldiers  saw  the  surrender  of  Lee  and  of  Johnson,  and  it  was 
a  Michigan  regiment  that  captured  the  President  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  Her  heroic  dead  sleep  in  every  national  cemetery, 
and  her  best  blood  has  been  poured  out  on  every  battle  field.  In 
every  encounter  they  were  conspicuous  for  their  bravery  and  devo 
tion.  In  every  position  they  were  true  and  faithful. 

It  would  be  a  pleasant  task  to  follow  the  soldiers  of  Michigan 
through  every  campaign,  and  tell  the  tale  of  their  heroism  and 
recount  their  deeds  of  valor ;  but  the  limits  of  this  volume  forbid, 
and  we  must  rest  content  with  the  briefest  outline  of  the  part 
which  was  taken  by  the  State  in  that  memorable  contest.  Besides, 
the  task  has  already  been  performed  in  an  able  manner  by  one 
of  the  soldiers  of  Michigan.  Reference  is  had  to  General  Rob 
ertson's  History  of  Michigan  during  the  Rebellion,  in  Lanman's 
Red  Book  of  Michigan.  And  we  here  take  occasion  to  acknowl 
edge  our  indebtedness  to  that  volume  for  many  of  the  facts  which 
are  here  set  forth. 

When  Governor  Blair  assumed  the  gubernatorial  chair,  in 
January,  1861,  the  mutterings  of  the  coming  storm  were  already 
heard  in  the  distance.  The  retiring  Governor,  the  lamented 
Moses  Wisner,  delivered  a  stirring  and  patriotic  valedictory  mes 
sage  to  the  Legislature,  which  served  as  the  key-note  to  the  action 
of  the  State  in  the  subsequent  contest.  Governor  Blair's  inau 
gural,  delivered  at  the  same  time,  was  an  equally  patriotic  message, 
in  which  he  discussed,  in  a  most  able  and  philosophical  manner, 
the  true  nature  of  our  complex  system  of  government,  and  of  the 
real  significance  of  the  impending  issues,  and  closed  by  recom 
mending  that  the  State  proffer  her  whole  military  resources  to  the 


496  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

President  to  aid  in  upholding  the  laws,  and  maintaining  the 
supremacy  of  the  Constitution.  The  Legislature  was  prompt  in 
its  response  to  this  recommendation,  and  passed  a  series  of  resolu 
tions,  declaring  the  loyalty  of  the  State  to  the  Union  and  the 
Constitution,  and  its  readiness  to  aid  the  government  with  all  its 
material  resources  and  military  power. 

Michigan  was  in  reality,  at  that  time,  ill  prepared  for  war. 
The  long  years  that  had  elapsed  since  there  had  been  any  enemies 
to  fight  had  caused  her  to  forget  that  war  was  possible.  Its 
militia  had  dwindled  to  next  to  nothing.  There  were  only  twenty- 
eight  companies  in  the  State,  with  an  effective  force  of  a  little  over 
one  thousand  men.  The  population  of  the  State  was  about 
800,000.  The  number  of  able-bodied  men,  capable  of  bearing 
arms,  was  estimated  at  110,000.  The  State  debt  was  $2,228,842, 
besides  $100,000  in  canal  bonds,  guaranteed  by  the  State.  The 
taxable  value  of  the  State  was  about  $275,000,000.  The  financial 
embarrassments  were  neither  few  nor  unimportant,  and  the  annual 
tax  of  $226,250,  was  considered  a  grievous  burthen  upon  the  peo 
ple.  Notwithstanding  these  embarrassments,  the  people  were 
willing  to  sacrifice  everything  to  maintain  the  integrity  of  the 
Union,  and  the  utterances  of  the  two  Governors,  and  the  resolu 
tions  of  the  Legislature,  struck  a  responsive  chord  in  every  patri 
otic  heart. 

On  the  12th  day  of  April,  1861,  the  telegraph  flashed  the  news 
to  Detroit  that  Fort  Sumter  had  been  fired  upon — that  civil  war 
had  been  inaugurated.  This  news  produced  the  most  intense 
excitement.  The  first  body  to  move  in  the  matter  was  the  Detroit 
bar.  A  meeting  was  held  on  the  13th,  and  patriotic  resolutions 
passed.  On  the  15th  the  news  was  received  that  Fort  Sumter 
had  surrendered.  At  the  same  time,  the  President's  call  for 
75,000  troops  was  received.  Public  meetings  were  at  once  held  in 
every  part  of  the  State,  and  pledges  made  to  assist  the  nation  in 
this  its  hour  of  peril.  Volunteering  commenced.  On  the  16th, 
Governor  Blair  arrived  in  Detroit,  and  immediately  held  a  con 
sultation  with  the  leading  citizens.  The  State  had  been  called 
upon  for  one  regiment,  fully  armed  and  equipped.  One  hundred 
thousand  dollars  was  required  for  this  purpose,  and  the  treasury 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


497 


was  empty.  To  meet  this  expenditure,  the  meeting  at  once 
pledged  Detroit  to  loan  the  State  $50,000.  A  further  sum  of 
$25,000  was  also  pledged  by  those  present,  and  a  committee 
appointed  to  solicit  further  subscriptions.  The  same  day  the 


REV.  MARCUS   SWIFT. 

MARCUS  SWIFT  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Wayne  county,  New  York,  June 
23,  1793.  His  father,  General  John  Swift,  a  prominent  citizen  of  that 
section,  secured  to  his  son  as  good  educational  advantages  as  the  country 
afforded  in  that  early  time,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  Mr.  Swift  married 
Miss  Anna  Osband,  and  entered  on  the  active  pursuits  of  life.  At  the 
age  of  twenty,  he  became  a  zealous  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  was  licensed,  soon  after,  to  preach  the  Gospel.  In  this  field 
he  was  eminently  successful.  Philosophical  and  logical  as  a  thinker, 
32 


498  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Governor  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  ten  companies  of 
volunteers.  The  State  promptly  responded  to  this  call,  and  the 
tenders  of  troops  soon  far  exceeded  the  requisition.  On  the  24th 
the  Governor  called  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature  to  meet 
on  the  seventh  of  May.  Orders  were  issued  for  organizing  the 
First  Regiment.  This  was  promptly  done,  and  the  Coldwater 
Battery  was  also  organized  and  equipped,  with  money  loaned  the 
State  by  the  citizens  of  Coldwater.  The  Second  Regiment  was 
also  hurriedly  recruited,  and  went  into  camp  at  Detroit.  The 
Third  and  Fourth  immediately  followed,  and  were  conditionally 
accepted,  it  being  apprehended  that  they  would  not  be  needed. 

On  the  seventh  of  May  the  Legislature  met,  and  legalized  what 
had  been  done,  clothed  the  Governor  with  ample  power  for  the 
future,  and  authorized  the  raising  of  ten  regiments  and  a  war  loan 
of  $1,000,000.  It  also  passed  the  "  Soldiers'  Relief  Law,"  by 
which  counties  were  required  to  afford  certain  relief  to  the  families 
of  soldiers. 

forcible  and  fluent  as  a  speaker,  simple  and  easy  in  address,  the  young 
licentiate  drew  around  him  a  circle  of  friends  appreciative  of  his  rapidly 
developing  powers  and  rich  in  kindness  and  sympathy.  Pecuniary 
embarrassments  overtook  him  in  consequence  of  the  sudden  death  of  an 
elder  brother  by  drowning,  and  caused  him  to  remove  with  his  family  to 
the  wilds  of  Michigan  in  1825.  He  purchased  land,  eighteen  miles  west 
of  Detroit,  Wayne  county,  in  the  township  of  Bucklin  (afterwards 
divided  into  the  townships  of  Bedford,  Dearborn,  Livonia  and  Nankin, 
in  the  latter  of  which  was  his  location),  and  making  that  a  permanent 
home,  became  identified  with  the  growth  and  development  of  that  part 
of  the  State. 

In  1827,  he  was  elected  supervisor.  Under  the  territorial  regime,  this 
office  was  one  of  primary  importance,  involving  the  entire  interests  of 
the  rapidly  developing  country.  This  office  he  filled  for  nine  successive 
terms,  the  remote  settlers  (from  necessity)  spending  two  days  in  going  to 
vote,  taking  their  provisions  with  them  and  "  camping  out "  in  the  woods 
during  the  journey.  He  was  also  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  Presi 
dent  Jackson,  which  office  he  continued  to  hold  until  the  Territory  was 
admitted  as  a  State. 

The  last  four  terms  Mr.  Swift  served  as  supervisor,  he  was  elected 
without  an  opposing  vote.  The  public  business  involved  in  the  division 
of  the  township,  devolved  on  him  and  was  disposed  of  with  judgment 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  499 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  May,  the  First  Regiment,  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  O.  B.  Wilcox,  left  for  the  seat  of  war,  fully 
armed  and  equipped.  The  Second  soon  followed,  commanded  by 
Colonel  Israel  B.  Richardson.  Many  other  companies  were  organ 
ized;  but,  not  being  able  to  find  places  in  the  regiments  in  this 
State,  sought  and  found  service  in  other  States.  The  Third  and 
Fourth,  however,  were  recruited,  under  the  authority  of  the  Gov 
ernor  ;  and,  while  this  was  in  process,  a  letter  was  received  from 
the  Secretary  of  War,  limiting  the  number  of  regiments  that 
would  be  accepted  from  this  State  to  four,  and  enjoining  the  Gov 
ernor  from  raising  any  more  than  that  number. 

Governor  Blair,  however,  decided  to  disregard  these  instruc 
tions,  and  immediately  established  a  camp  of  instruction  for  the 
officers  of  the  Fifth,  Sixth,  and  Seventh  regiments.  Companies 
were  soon  assigned  to  these  regiments ;  and  the  course  of  instruc 
tion  proceeded  till  the  first  of  August,  when  the  camp  was  broken 
up,  and  the  force  sent  to  various  localities  to  recruit  and  organize 

and  dispatch.  His  increasing  acquaintance,  and  the  duties  connected 
with  the  ministry,  which  profession  he  faithfully  and  laboriously  exer 
cised  among  the  scattered  and  almost  shepherdless  flocks  of  Christ, 
caused  his  gradual  withdrawal  from  public  business,  that  he  might  devote 
himself  wholly  to  the  chief  purpose  of  his  life. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  having  organized  a  conference  in 
1833,  he  took  charge  of  Oakland  circuit,  which  embraced  within  its 
limits  125  miles.  This  circuit  he  made  once  in  four  weeks,  preaching 
thirty-one  times  each  month,  and  receiving  $120  per  year  for  the  two 
years  he  occupied  it,  in  anything  but  money.  The  next  year  he  had 
charge  of  Plymouth  circuit,  after  which  he  withdrew  from  conference 
and  performed  voluntary  labor,  until  the  organization  of  the  Wesleyan 
church,  preaching  every  Sabbath  and  frequently  during  the  week,  for 
which  he  received  occasional  contributions  from  the  indigent  people. 
He  always  responded  with  cheerful  alacrity  to  calls  for  pastoral  service, 
and  it  was  no  unfrequent  occurrence  for  one  of  the  horses  to  be  taken 
from  the  plow  in  the  middle  of  the  furrow  (for  he  combined  farming 
with  his  other  avocations),  in  order  that  its  master  might  repair  to  some 
distant  neighborhood  and  preach  one  of  the  pathetic  funeral  sermons  for 
which  he  was  famous. 

The  principal  occasion  of  Mr.  Swift's  separation  from  the  conference, 
was  the  complicity  of  the  church  with  slavery.  As  early  as  18£5,  he  began 


500  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  regiments.  This  was  promptly  done,  and  before  the  twelfth 
of  September,  all  had  left  for  the  field,  the  President  having,  in 
the  meantime,  called  for  500,000  volunteers.  The  quota  of  Mich 
igan  under  this  call  was  put  at  21,337.  In  addition  to  this  force, 
two  companies  of  sharpshooters  were  organized  and  mustered  in. 
Also,  two  companies  of  cavalry,  for  a  Missouri  regiment ;  seven 
of  infantry  for  Illinois  regiments,  and  two  for  New  York  regi 
ments.  In  obedience  to  this  call,  recruiting  was  pushed  with  the 
utmost  rapidity  until  December,  1861,  at  which  time  the  State 
had  sent  the  following  regiments  to  the  front : 

The  First  Regiment  Infantry,  three  months,  from  Detroit,  May 
15th,  780  strong — Colonel  0.  B.  Wilcox  commanding. 

The  First  Regiment,  from  Ann  Arbor,  September  16th,  751 
strong — Colonel  John  C.  Robinson  commanding. 

The  Second  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  June  5th,  1,020 
strong — Colonel  J.  B.  Richardson  commanding. 

to  agitate  the  subject,  and  made  himself  heard  with  telling  effect.  In  the 
conference,  he  had  not  a  man  to  hold  up  his  hands  as  he  invited  attention 
to  an  investigation  of  the  sin  and  its  dire  effects  on  the  church  and  nation. 
He  insisted  that  the  church  ought  to  take  such  action  as  would  show  to 
the  world  that  it  regarded  God  rather  than  man,  and  refuse  to  bind  itself 
with  the  fetters  of  expediency  by  tolerating  apologists  of  slavery  and 
slave-holding  ministers  and  laymen.  He  exercised  charity  towards  those 
who  honestly  entertained  the  opinion  expressed  by  Bishop  Hedding,  viz: 
"  Slaves  could  be  held  in  obedience  to  the  golden  rule,"  and  was  willing 
to  believe  that  what  seemed  to  him  a  monstrous  and  unnatural  invasion 
of  the  rights  of  his  sable  brethren  might  assume  to  some  the  aspect  of 
missionary  work.  But  "his  heart  burned  in  him  like  a  fire,"  and  the 
wrongs  and  sufferings  of  the  slaves  stung  every  fibre  of  his  sympathetic 
nature  with  pain.  His  open  denunciation  of  the  church  polity,  regard 
ing  slavery  and  episcopacy,  brought  upon  him  the  censure  of  the  official 
boards  of  the  conference,  and  they,  together  with  the  bishop,  refused  to 
ordain  him  an  elder,  notwithstanding  he  had  fulfilled  all  the  disciplinary 
requirements,  and  passed  a  complete  examination.  The  condition  exacted 
was,  that  he  cease  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question.  For  such  pledge 
on  his  part,  ordination  was  offered  him,  and  the  most  inviting  station  in 
the  conference  tendered.  His  talent  as  a  preacher  made  him  eminent — 
a  pillar  of  strength  to  the  church  as  an  advocate  and  defender  of  its 
doctrines.  Learned  in  the  formulas  of  the  churches,  familiar  with 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  501 

The  Third  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  June  13th, 
1,042  strong — Colonel  D.  McConnell  commanding. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Adrian,  June  25th,  1,024 
strong — Colonel  D.  A.  Woodbury  commanding. 

The  Fifth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  llth, 
900  strong — Colonel  H.  D.  Terry  commanding. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Kalamazoo,  August  30th, 
1,020  strong — Colonel  F.  W.  Curtenius  commanding. 

The  Seventh  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Monroe,  September  5th, 
1,020  strong — Colonel  Ira  R.  Grosvenor  commanding. 

The  Eighth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  27th, 
900  strong — Colonel  W.  M.  Fenton  commanding. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  October  25th,  943 
strong — Colonel  W.  W.  Duffield  commanding. 

The  Sixteenth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  September  16th, 
960  strong — Colonel  T.  B.  W.  Stockton  commanding. 

ecclesiastical  history  and  literature,  lie  presented  an  impregnable  front  to 
the  assaults  of  infidelity.  The  soundness  of  his  judgment  and  his 
remarkable  familiarity  with  the  Scriptures,  caused  his  counsel  and  advice 
to  be  sought  and  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  ministerial  brethren. 
But  all  these  gifts  were  light  as  an  airy  bubble  when  weighed  in  the 
balance  with  his  denunciations  of  the  "peculiar  institution."  The 
unswerving  fidelity  to  moral  and  religious  convictions  which  character 
ized  him,  demanded  the  renunciation  of  worldly  position  and  gain,  and 
he  renounced  them.  The  imposition  of  priestly  hands  was  "nothing 
worth  "  if  purchased  by  the  stifling  of  the  voice  of  conscience.  All 
the  manhood  in  him  rose  in  rebellion  at  the  infamous  bargain,  and  he 
proclaimed  persistently,  trumpet-tongued,  and  in  discussions  with  his 
opponents  proved  that  stains  of  guilt  and  crime  darkened  the  slave-hold 
ing  churches.  He  contended  that  the  complicity  and  even  neutrality  of 
the  non-slave-holding  portion  of  the  church  was  criminal,  a  sin  against 
God  and  humanity,  in  direct  violation  of  the  discipline  and  opposed  to 
the  spirit  and  teachings  of  the  founders  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 

The  storm  of  persecution  which  had  been  gathering  since  1834,  fell 
upon  him  more  fiercely  with  each  evidence  that  he  was  fearfully  in 
earnest  in  the  work  of  reform.  The  destruction  of  his  property,  mob 
violence,  nor  threats  of  malignant  enemies  could  intimidate  him,  and  to 
cries  of  "peace,"  his  response  .was,  "first  pure,  then  peaceable."  At 


502  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

The  Eleventh  Regiment  Infantry,  from  White  Pigeon,  Decem 
ber  9th,  1,000  strong— Colonel  W.  J.  May  commanding. 

The  First  Regiment  Mechanics  and  Engineers,  from  Marshall, 
December  llth,  1,000  strong — Colonel  W.  P.  Innes  commanding. 

The  First  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Detroit,  September  29th, 
1,150  strong — Colonel  T.  F.  Broadhead  commanding. 

The  Second  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  November 
14th,  1,170  strong — Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  C.  Davis  commanding. 

The  Third  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  November 
28th,  1,180  strong — Lieutenant-Colonel  R.  H.  G.  Minty  command 
ing. 

The  First  Battery,  from  Detroit,  June  1st,  123  strong — Captain 
C.  O.  Loomis  commanding. 

The  Second  Battery,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December  17th,  110 
strong — Captain  W.  S.  Bliss  commanding. 

The  Third  Battery,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December  17th,  80 
strong — Captain  A.  W.  Dees  commanding. 

length,  hopeless  of  reform  in  the  church  and  feeling  it  no  longer  con 
sistent  with  his  principles  to  maintain  connection  with  it,  in  1841,  he 
formally  withdrew. 

Politically,  he  acted  in  the  same  decided  manner.  Always  loyal  to 
laws  he  believed  to  be  in  accord  with  the  constitution,  he  never  advocated 
more  radical  political  action  than  that  upon  which  the  present  Republi 
can  party  based  its  existence.  He  acted  with  the  American  Anti-Slavery 
Society,  but  was  not  a  Garrisonian  abolitionist,  believing  rather  that  the 
franchise  should  be  exercised  in  correcting  national  evils. 

In  1840,  his  vote  was  one  of  two  cast  in  the  township  for  the  "Liberty 
party"  candidate  for  the  presidency,  James  G.  Birney.  This  party 
received  his  support  until  merged  in  the  Free  Soil  party,  in  1848,  and  the 
Republican  party  in  1856,  and  ever  after  during  his  life. 

In  Michigan,  soon  after  Mr.  Swift's  secession  from  the  church,  a  large 
number  followed  his  example,  and,  in  the  same  year  (1841),  an  organiza 
tion  was  effected  under  the  name  of  the  "  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church." 
A  book  of  "  doctrines  and  discipline"  was  adopted,  chiefly  compiled  by 
his  hand.  The  withdrawals  continued  to  increase  in  number,  and,  in 
May,  1843,  a  large  convention  of  Wesleyan  Methodists  assembled  at  Utica, 
New  York,  to  which  Mr.  Swift  was  a  delegate.  Nine  States  were  repre 
sented,  and  the  "  Wesleyan  Methodist  Connection  of  America"  organized 
with  about  170  preachers  and  8,000  members.  Into  this  connection  was 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  503 

The  Fourth  Battery,  from  White  Pigeon,  December  9th,  126 
strong — Captain  A.  F.  Bidwell  commanding. 

The  Fifth  Battery,  from  Marshall,  December  17th,  76  strong — 
Captain  J.  H.  Dennis  commanding. 

Ten  of  these  regiments  were  clothed  and  subsisted  by  the  State, 
under  the  direction  of  the  Quartermaster-General. 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1862  found  the  recruiting 
going  on  with  unabated  vigor.  Five  regiments  of  infantry  and 
three  batteries  of  artillery,  in  various  portions  of  the  State,  were 
being  rapidly  recruited,  and  they  left  for  the  field  as  follows : 

Thirteenth  Infantry  from  Kalamazoo,  February  12th,  925 
strong — Colonel  M.  Shoemaker  commanding. 

Twelfth  Infantry,  from  Niles,  March  18th,  1,000  strong— Colo 
nel  Francis  Quinn  commanding. 

Fifteenth  Infantry,  from  Monroe,  March  27th,  869  strong— Col 
onel  J.  M.  Oliver  commanding. 

Fourteenth  Infantry,  from  Ypsilanti,  April  17th,  925  strong — 
Colonel  R.  P.  Sinclair  commanding. 

merged  the  church  organized  in  Michigan  two  years  before.  In  the 
itinerancy  of  this  church  and  connection,  Mr.  Swift  labored  actively,  and 
in  the  ministry  to  the  close  of  his  life.  He  expired,  February  19,  1865, 
after  a  brief  illness,  at  the  residence  of  his  son,  Dr.  J.  M.  Swift,  of 
Northville,  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  last  words  were,  "  '  Now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  according  to  thy  word,  for  mine 
eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation.'  The  great  principles  for  which  1  labored 
and  fought  amid  reverses  and  persecution  are  now  the  ruling  sentiments 
of  the  people.  I  have  lived  in  a  glorious  age,  and  my  eyes  have  seen  the 
powers  of  darkness  give  way  before  the  coming  of  the  glorious  reign  of 
liberty  and  equality."  And  so  he  entered  into  rest. 

The  influence  of  Mr.  Swift,  in  moulding  the  moral  sentiment  of  the 
community  in  which  he  lived,  can  hardly  be  over-estimated.  His  famili 
arity  with  all  the  interests  pertaining  to  a  newly  settled  country,  to  rural 
life,  to  the  administration  of  the  laws  and  to  the  spiritual  concerns  of  his 
fellows,  gave  him  the  position  of  adviser,  advocate  and  judge.  His  repu 
tation  for  candor  and  probity  frequently  enabled  him  to  reconcile  con 
flicting  interests  by  mediation,  and  his  voice  was  ever  for  peace  and 
good  fellowship.  He  was  hospitable  and  charitable,  giving  vastly  more 
for  benevolent  objects  than  he  ever  received  for  public  services,  and 
his  ear  was  ever  open,  and  his  sympathetic  heart  quick  to  respond,  to  the 


504  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

Tenth  Infantry,  from  Flint,  April  22d,  997  strong— Colonel  C. 
M.  Lum  commanding. 

Seventh  Battery,  from  Kalamazoo,  February  12th,  145  strong — 
Captain  C.  H.  Lamphere  commanding. 

Sixth  Battery,  from  Coldwater,  March  3d,  158  strong — Captain 
J.  S.  Andrews  commanding. 

Eighth  Battery,  from  Monroe,  March  13th,  156  strong — Cap 
tain  Samuel  De  Golyer  commanding. 

In  addition  to  these  there  were  three  more  companies  of  sharp 
shooters  raised  and  sent  forward,  and  one  company  to  serve  as  a 
guard  for  three  prominent  Southern  men,  who  had  been  arrested 
by  Andrew  Johnson  for  treason  and  imprisoned  at  Mackinaw.  A 
lancer  regiment  and  a  battalion  of  cavalry  had  also  been  raised, 
but  disbanded  by  the  government.  The  reports  made  in  July 
gave  an  additional  number  of  2,028  recruits  to  the  organizations 
before  mentioned,  showing  a  total  of  24,281  enrolled  since  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  not  including  the  lancer  regiment,  the 
cavalry  battalion  which  had  not  been  accepted,  or  the  companies 
enlisted  in  regiments  in  other  States.  Including  these,  there 

cry  of  the  friendless  and  oppressed.  His  vigorous  intellect  and  strong, 
enthusiastic  character  left  its  imprint  on  the  civil,  political  and  educa 
tional  polity  of  his  time.  As  a  speaker,  he  was  logical,  forcible  and 
inspiring.  His  searching  and  pathetic  appeals  to  the  hearts  and  con 
sciences  of  his  hearers  were  responded  to,  in  multitudes  of  instances  by 
purified  lives,  and  thousands  called  him  their  spiritual  father.  In  his 
latter  years,  he  was  universally  greeted  with  the  loving  title  of  "Father 
Swift." 

The  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  was  an  organized  protest  against  the 
immorality  of  slavery,  before  which  other  churches  trembled,  shorn  of 
power.  It  put  forth  in  the  form  of  a  religious  idea,  what  was  soon  to 
become  a  political  necessity,  and  from  its  despised  position  among  the 
small  things  of  the  earth,  it  sent  forth  roots  into  the  heart  of  society, 
which  nourished  the  mighty  tree  whose  branches  are  now,  truly,  "for 
the  sheltering  of  all  nations."  It  drew  within  its  pale  such  hosts  of  free, 
aspiring  and  self-sacrificing  spirits,  that  its  wonderful  work  was  speedily 
accomplished.  A  generation  of  men  sufficed  to  do  this  work,  chief 
among  whom  was  Rev.  Marcus  Swift,  who  cast  into  its  treasury  worldly 
ambition,  power  and  gain,  counting  all  these  things  but  dross  for  the 
grandeur  of  the  interests  it  represented. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


505 


would  be  an  aggregate  of  about  27,000  men.  Adding  only  those 
who  went  into  the  regiments  of  other  States  would  give  a  grand 
total  of  25,734  men  who  went  to  the  front  from  Michigan  up  to 
July  1st,  1862 — over  6,000  more  than  had  been  called  for. 


DR.   G.  L.  CORNELL. 

GEORGE  L.  CORNELL  was  born  at  Crown  Point,  Essex  county,  New 
York,  December  3d,  1829.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  this  country. 
His  father  was  a  physician  of  considerable  eminence  and  extensive 
practice. 

In  1834,  the  family  removed  to  Michigan,  and  settled  at  Spring  Arbor, 
in  the  county  of  Jackson.  Here  he  passed  through  the  ordinary  course 
taught  in  a  common  school,  and  prepared  himself  for  college.  He  studied 
medicine  under  the  instruction  of  his  father  and  Dr.  M.  Gunn,  \vlio 
was  at  that  time  surgeon  of  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  graduated 


506  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF   THE  STATES. 

In  the  meantime,  the  Union  armies  had  met  with  some  disas 
trous  reverses  in  the  field,  which,  for  the  time  being,  cast  a  feeling 
of  gloom  and  despondency  over  the  people  of  the  whole  North. 
But  Michigan  soon  rallied  from  that  state  of  feeling ;  and,  when 
the  President,  on  the  second  of  July,  issued  a  call  for  "  three  hun 
dred  thousand  more,"  she  was  as  prompt  as  ever  in  her  response. 
The  quota  for  Michigan  under  that  call  was  11,686.  Six  regi 
ments  were  immediately  ordered — one  for  each  Congressional  dis 
trict.  In  addition  to  these,  the  people  of  Detroit  and  Wayne 
county  organized  one  regiment  from  their  own  citizens.  Other 
regiments  followed  in  rapid  succession,  and,  by  the  thirteenth  of 
December  following,  fourteen  additional  regiments  were  organized 
and  sent  forward,  as  follows  : 

The  Seventeenth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  August  27th, 
982  strong — Colonel  W.  H.  Withington  commanding. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Detroit,  August 
29th,  1,027  strong — Colonel  H.  A.  Morrow  commanding. 

The  Twentieth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Jackson,  September 
1st,  1,012  strong — Colonel  A.  W.  Williams  commanding. 

The  Eighteenth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Hillsdale,  September 
4th,  1,002  strong — Colonel  C.  E.  Doolittle  commanding. 

The  Twenty-second  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Pontiac,  Septem 
ber  4th,  997  strong — Colonel  M.  Wisner  commanding. 

The  Twenty-first  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Ionia,  September 
12th,  1,007  strong — Colonel  A.  E.  Stevens  commanding. 

The  Nineteenth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Dowagiac,  September 
14th,  995  strong — Colonel  H.  C.  Gilbert  commanding. 

from  that  institution  in  the  class  of  1852.  The  next  year  after  finishing 
his  collegiate  course,  he  removed  to  the  city  of  St.  Clair  and  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  Since  that  time,  he  has  devoted  himself, 
with  rare  skill  and  ability,  to  the  practice ;  and  has  won  for  himself  a 
position  in  the  front  rank  of  the  profession  in  Michigan.  During  the 
administration  of  James  Buchanan,  he  was  appointed  collector  of  cus 
toms  at  St.  Clair,  which  office  he  held  until  the  election  of  Lincoln,  in 
1860.  During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  he  went  to  the  front  in  the 
capacity  of  surgeon  in  the  army,  where  his  rare  skill  as  a  surgeon  was 
exercised  to  the  greatest  advantage  on  many  a  bloody  battle-field.  After 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  returned  to  St.  Clair  and  resumed  practice. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  507 

The  Twenty-third  Regiment  Infantry,  from  East  Saginaw,  Sep 
tember  18th,  883  strong — Colonel  M.  W.  Chapin  commanding. 

The  Fourth  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Detroit,  September  26th, 
1,223  strong — Colonel  R.  H.  G.  Minty  commanding. 

The  Twenty-fifth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Kalamazoo,  Septem 
ber  29th,  896  strong — Colonel  O.  H.  Moore  commanding. 

The  Ninth  Battery,  from  Detroit,  December  4th,  168  strong — 
Captain  J.  J.  Daniels  commanding. 

The  Fifth  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Detroit,  December  4th,  1,305 
strong — Colonel  J.  T.  Copeland  commanding. 

The  Sixth  Regiment  Cavalry,  from  Grand  Rapids,  December 
10th,  1,220  strong — Colonel  George  Gray  commanding. 

The  Twenty-sixth  Regiment  Infantry,  from  Jackson,  December 
13th,  903  strong — Colonel  J.  S.  Farrar  commanding. 

In  the  meantime,  an  order  had  been  made  by  the  President 
(August  4)  for  a  draft  of  300,000  militia,  for  nine  months'  service. 
The  quota  assigned  for  Michigan  was  the  same  as  under  the  call 
of  July  second,  viz:  11,689.  In  accordance  with  this  demand 
the  Governor  issued  a  proclamation,  directing  a  census  to  be  taken 
of  the  citizens  in  the  State  capable  of  bearing  arms.  This  was 
accordingly  done,  and  the  result  showed  that  the  number  of  men 
in  the  State  subject  to  draft  was  91,071.  Many  difficulties  pre 
sented  themselves  in  the  way  of  making  a  draft,  and  the  Presi 
dent,  therefore,  left  the  time  for  drafting  to  the  discretion  of  the 
governors,  hoping  that  each  would  be  able  to  raise  the  number 
required  by  volunteer  enlistments.  Governor  Blair  accordingly, 

He  has  been  repeatedly  elected  mayor  of  the  city  of  St.  Clair,  and 
alderman  of  his  ward,  and  his  services  are  nearly  always  sought  as  a 
member  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the  county.  Although  his  politi 
cal  influence  is  second  to  none  in  his  county,  he  has  persistently  refused, 
with  rare  exceptions,  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used  in  connection  with 
any  office,  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  which  would  call  him  away 
from  his  chosen  field  of  labor — the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  has 
acquired  a  handsome  fortune  by  his  own  unaided  exertions,  and  occupies 
a  prominent  and  leading  position,  not  only  in  his  profession,  but  in  social 
and  political  life.  He  is  remarkable  for  his  benevolence  and  public 
spirit,  and  is  especially  active  in  the  promotion  of  the  educational  inter 
ests  of  the  city  and  county  in  which  he  resides. 


508  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

on  the  ninth  of  November,  issued  a  stirring  appeal  to  the  citizens 
of  Michigan  to  come  forward  and  save  the  State  from  the  impend 
ing  draft.  Less  than  four  thousand  were  now  needed  to  fill  the 
quota.  In  the  meantime,  enlistments  had  gone  forward  rapidly. 
The  Twenty-seventh  Infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thomas 
S.  Sprague ;  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  F.  W.'  Kellogg  ; 
the  Eighth  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  John  Stockton ;  the  Ninth 
Cavalry,  under  Captain  James  J.  David;  the  Twenty  -  eighth 
Infantry,  under  Colonel  Edward  Doyle,  and  another  regiment  of 
sharpshooters,  under  Captain  C.  V.  DeLand,  had  been  organized, 
and  vigorous  efforts  were  being  made  to  fill  up  the  ranks. 

The  aggregate  number  of  troops  enlisted  and  mustered  up  to 
December  23d,  1862,  as  reported  by  the  Adjutant-General,  was  as 
follows : 

"  Total,  including  recruits,  sent  to  the  field  before  July  1st,  1862, 
24,281;  'Lancers'  and  'Hughes'  Horse  Guards,'  regularly  mus 
tered  into  the  service,  but  disbanded  without  leaving  the  State, 
987  ;  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  ten  of  infantry,  and  one  battery, 
sent  since  July  1st,  13,739;  recruits  (including  six  for  nine  months) 
received  from  July  1st  to  December  23d,  2,162  ;  estimated  strength 
of  three  regiments  of  cavalry,  two  of  infantry,  one  of  sharpshoot 
ers,  and  two  batteries,  organizing  in  the  State,  4,400.  Total,  45,- 
569." 

This  does  not  include  volunteers  from  this  State  who  had  gone 
into  the  regiments  of  other  States,  to  a  number  known  to  exceed 
1,400,  nor  those  who  had  enlisted  in  the  regular  army — probably 
three  or  four  hundred. 

In  January,  1863,  the  Legislature  met  and  passed  an  act  offer 
ing  $50  bounties  for  enlistments,  and  legalized  the  local  bounties 
that  had  been  offered  throughout  the  State.  It  also  appropriated 
$20,000  for  the  relief  of  the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  in  the 
field.  This  amount  was  increased,  subsequently,  by  an  additional 
$25,000. 

At  the  commencement  of  this  year,  three  regiments  of  cavalry, 
two  of  infantry,  one  of  sharpshooters,  and  two  batteries,  were  in 
process  of  recruitment  within  the  State.  During  January,  the 
"  Provost  Guard,"  a  company  raised  by  Captain  E.  D.  Robinson, 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


509 


for  duty  at  the  Detroit  Barracks,  was  mustered  into  service ;  also, 
Company  L,  "  Merrill  Horse,"  recruited  by  Almon  E.  Preston. 
On  the  twentieth  of  February,  eight  completed  companies  of  the 
Seventh  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel  W.  D.  Mann,  were 


COLIN   CAMPBELL. 

COLEN  CAMPBELL  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  June  of  the  year 
1811. 

At  an  early  age  his  father  died,  leaving  him  the  special  care  of  a  devoted 
mother,  who  earty  taught  him  the  religious  principles  which  are  the 
foundation  to  his  present  success. 

At  the  age  of  fourteen,  Mr.  Campbell  entered  into  the  stationery  'and 
paper  business  in  his  native  country.  At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  engaged 
as  book-keeper  in  a  bottling  or  brewing  house,  and  two  years  afterwards 


510  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

ordered  to  Washington.  The  remaining  battalion  was  left  to 
recruit,  and  joined  the  regiment  in  May  following.  The  Eighth 
Cavalry,  1,117  strong,  under  Colonel  Stockton,  left  for  Kentucky 
on  the  twelfth  of  May.  The  Ninth  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  David, 
left  on  the  eighteenth,  twentieth,  and  twenty-fifth  of  May,  leaving 
two  incomplete  companies  to  be  filled.  These  joined  the  regiment 
soon  after,  increasing  the  number  in  this  regiment  to  1,073.  The 
Twenty-seventh  and  Twenty-eighth  Infantry  were  consolidated  as 
the  Twenty  -  seventh  Infantry,  and  left  for  Cincinnati  on  the 
twelfth  of  April,  865  strong,  under  command  of  Colonel  D.  M. 
Fox.  The  First  Regiment  of  Michigan  Sharpshooters,  under 
Colonel  DeLand,  was  ordered,  on  the  eighth  of  July,  to  Indian 
apolis.  When  this  regiment  was  completed,  it  showed  a  strength  of 
963.  The  Tenth  Battery,  104  strong,  under  Captain  J.  C.  Shultz, 
left  with  the  Seventh  Cavalry.  The  Eleventh  Battery,  108  strong, 
under  Captain  C.  J.  Thompson,  left  with  the  Ninth  Cavalry.  The 
Twelfth  Battery,  under  Captain  E.  G.  Hillier,  left  for  Indianapo 
lis  in  July.  When  completed  this  battery  was  219  strong. 

In  the  meantime  a  draft  was  made,  in  February,  in  the  counties 

he  again  established  himself  in  business.  This  was  in  the  outskirts  of 
Glasgow,  where  he  conducted  a  general  provision  and  grocery  store  for 
a  considerable  time. 

A  few  years  later,  he  disposed  of  his  effects  in  Scotland  and  sailed  for 
the  United  States,  arriving  in  Detroit  in  1842.  Here  he  formed  a  co-part 
nership  with  Messrs.  J.  H.  Thompson  and  James  Jack,  two  friends  who 
had  preceded  him  to  this  country,  and  they  entered  into  -the  dry  goods 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Campbell  &  Jack.  As  their  business 
increased  from  time  to  time  the  firm  was  changed,  and  they  removed 
from  one  store  to  another  until  they  finally  settled  in  their  present  build 
ing  on  the  corner  of  Woodward  avenue  and  Congress  street,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Colin  Campbell  &  Sons. 

Mr.  Campbell  has  achieved  substantial  though  perhaps  not  extravagant 
success  in  mercantile  pursuits.  His  life  has  not  been  altogether  given  up 
to  business  matters;  on  the  contrary,  he  has  devoted  much  to  the  study 
of  the  Bible,  and  has  made  it,  to  a  great  extent,  the  guide  of  his  life. 

Looking  beyond  the  narrow  limits  of  pecuniary  gain,  he  has  concerned 
himself  with  questions  of  politics  and  religion,  and,  although  shunning 
public  preferment,  he  has  won  the  highest  esteem  of  the  people  in  his 
adopted  State. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  611 

then  in  arrear  for  the  small  deficiency  then  existing.  The  number 
drafted  was  1,278.  Of  these,  710  were  delivered  at  Detroit,  545 
of  whom  were  sent  to  various  regiments  in  the  field,  the  rest  being 
discharged  for  various  causes.  Of  these  430  enlisted  for  three 
years,  only  115  going  into  the  field  for  nine  months.  On  the 
twenty-third  of  June  the  War  Department  authorized  Colonel  F. 
W.  Kellogg  to  raise  two  additional  regiments  of  cavalry  and  two 
more  batteries  of  artillery.  These  were  to  be  completed  within 
forty  days.  It  was  found  impossible  to  do  this  in  so  short  a  time ; 
but  the  recruiting  commenced  at  once  with  the  utmost  vigor,  and, 
on  the  first  of  December,  the  Tenth  Cavalry,  under  Colonel  Thad- 
deus  Foote,  left  for  Kentucky,  912  strong,  and  was  followed,  on 
the  seventeenth,  by  the  Eleventh  Cavalry,  under  command  of 
Colonel  S.  B.  Brown,  921  strong.  The  two  batteries  were  left  in 
camp,  in  the  process  of  organization.  In  July  Colonel  Henry  Barns 
commenced  the  arduous  task  of  raising  a  colored  regiment.  The 
organization  was  completed  in  February  following,  and  mustered 
into  the  service,  895  strong.  It  was  afterwards  designated  as  the 
One  Hundred  and  Second  United  States  colored  troops. 

In  March  of  this  year  Congress  passed  an  act  "  for  enrolling 
and  calling  out  the  national  forces."  The  execution  of  this  act  was 
under  the  exclusive  control  of  the  Federal  authorities,  and  it  pro 
vided  elaborate  details  for  attaining  the  object  in  view.  The 
national  force  was  declared  to  consist,  with  certain  specified  excep 
tions,  of  "  all  able-bodied  male  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and 
persons  of  foreign  birth  who  shall  have  declared  on  oath  their 
intention  to  become  citizens  under  and  in  pursuance  of  the  laws 
thereof,  between  the  ages  of  twenty  and  forty-five  years ;"  and 
this  force  was  divided  into  two  classes,  the  first  to  comprise  "  all 
persons  subject  to  do  military  duty  between  the  ages  of  twenty  and 
thirty-five  years,  and  all  unmarried  persons  subject  to  do  military 
duty  above  the  age  of  thirty-five  and  under  the  age  of  forty-five,' 
the  second  to  comprise  "  all  other  persons  subject  to  do  military 
duty ;"  and  it  was  provided  that  the  latter  class  "  shall  not,  in  any 
district,  be  called  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  until 
those  of  the  first  class  shall  have  been  called."  Each  Congres 
sional  district  was  formed  into  an  enrollment  district,  a  provost 


512  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

marshal  and  board  of  enrollment  provided  for  each,  and  these 
districts  were  again  divided  into  sub-districts,  consisting  of  wards 
and  townships. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  B.  H.  Hill  was  appointed  Acting  Assistant 
Provost  Marshal  General  of  the  State.  Provost  marshals  were 
appointed  for  each  Congressional  district,  and  through  these  agen 
cies  the  enrollment  was  completed  during  the  summer.  The  total 
numbers  enrolled  were:  of  the  first  class,  80,038  ;  second  class, 
40,226.  On  the  completion  of  the  enrollment  in  the  several  States 
a  draft  was  ordered  of  one-fifth  of  the  first  class,  subject  to  adjust 
ments  of  the  surplus  or  deficiency  existing  in  the  accounts  of  each 
State  under  previous  calls. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  October  a  draft  began  in  all  the  dis 
tricts  except  the  First,  which  was  delayed  till  the  fifth  of  Novem 
ber.  The  number  drafted  was  6,383.  Of  these,  261  were  delivered 
at  the  general  rendezvous  ;  643  furnished  substitutes  (43  of  whom 
deserted)  ;  1,626  paid  each  $300  commutation  money  ;  2,130  were 
exempted ;  and  1,069  failed  to  report.  The  total  amount  paid  as 
commutation  money  was  $487,800. 

In  October,  the  government  offered  recruiting  agents  $15  for 
each  recruit  furnished,  and  increased  the  bounties  to  $302  for 
those  enlisting  for  the  first  time,  and  $402  for  veterans  reenlisting. 
Liberal  local  bounties  were  offered  in  most  of  the  counties. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  October  the  President  issued  a  call  for 
300,000  more  men,  and  ordered  a  draft  to  commence  the  fifth  of 
January  ensuing,  to  fill  any  deficiency  then  existing.  The  quota 
for  Michigan  under  this  call  was  11,298.  The  Governor  immedi 
ately  issued  a  stirring  proclamation,  calling  upon  the  people  to 
"  fill  up  the  ranks  once  more,"  and  promising  that  "  the  next  blast 
of  the  bugle  for  an  advance  will  sound  the  knell  of  revolution  and 
herald  in  the  return  of  peace."  The  appeal  was  responded  to  by 
the  people  with  the  same  cordiality  that  had  characterized  their 
action  on  every  previous  call.  The  returns  and  muster  rolls 
showed  that,  down  to  December  31st,  1863,  an  aggregate  of  53,749 
men  had  been  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States 
since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  not  including  the  troops  dis 
banded. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


513 


The  important  event  which  occurred  in  the  early  part  of  1 864 
was  the  return  of  the  "  veterans,"  who  had  reenlisted,  and  were 
home  on  furlough  and  reorganizing.  Five  thousand  five  hundred 
and  forty-five  of  these  reentered  the  service,  entitling  the  following 


HON.  WM.  A.  BURT. 

WILLIAM  AUSTIN  Bum\  who  was  very  prominently  identified  with  the 
(early  days  of  the  State,  was  born  in  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  June  13, 
.1792.  At  this  place,  Alvin  Burt  and  Miss  Wealthy  Austin,  parents  of 
"William  Austin  Burt,  were  born.  They  resided  there  until  1798,  when 
they  removed  with  their  son  William,  then  six  years  of  age,  to  Mont 
gomery  county,  New  York.  At  that  time,  there  were  no  schools,  and 
young  Burt,  whose  eager  thirst  for  knowledge  had  begun  to  develop  at 
that  early  age,  encountered  many  difficulties  in  acquiring  an  education. 
.Fortunately  Jor  him,  a  gentleman  resided  in  the  neighborhood  who  had 
33 


514  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

organizations  to  which  they  belonged  to  the  title  of  "  veteran :  " 
First,  Second  and  Third  Cavalry ;  Second,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth, 
Seventh,  Eighth,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Twelfth,  Thirteenth,  Fourteenth, 
Fifteenth,  and  Sixteenth  Infantry ;  the  Sixth  Heavy  Artillery, 
and  Batteries  B,  C,  and  E,  First  Light  Artillery,  and  148  of  the 
Engineers  and  Mechanics.  On  the  first  of  February  a  draft  was 
ordered  by  the  President  for  500,000  men,  to  serve  for  three  years, 
or  during  the  war.  This  order  was  interpreted  to  mean  an  exten 
sion  of  the  then  pending  call  for  300,000,  and  was  so  acted  upon. 
On  the  fourteenth  of  March  the  President  made  an  additional 
order  for  200,000  men,  giving  till  the  fifteenth  of  April  for  enlist 
ments  before  the  draft  should  take  place.  An  act  was  also  passed 
by  Congress  abolishing  the  commutation  system.  The  distinction 
of  classes  had  already  been  abolished.  On  the  eighteenth  of  July 
the  President  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for  500,000  men,  and 
directing  that  volunteers  be  accepted  for  one,  two,  or  three  years, 
as  they  might  elect ;  and  that  on  the  fifth  of  September,  a  draft 
should  be  made  for  any  deficiency  that  might  be  found  to  exist. 
Upon  the  reception  of  this  call,  Governor  Blair  issued  a  stirring 
proclamation,  calling  upon  the  people  for  prompt  efforts  to  meet 

been  a  teacher  in  the  old  country,  and  who  took  an  interest  in  his  studies 
and  gave  him  every  assistance  and  encouragement.  Here  he  began  the 
study  of  surveying  and  national  astronomy,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen, 
he  had  mastered  these  difficult  studies.  His  parents  were  poor  and  could 
give  him  but  little  aid,  and  after  the  toil  of  the  day  was  ended,  the  young 
man  pursued  his  studies  by  the  light  of  a  pine  knot,  the  luxury  of  a 
"  tallow  dip"  being  at  that  time  not  easily  obtained.  Thus  employed, 
the  time  went  by  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  the  family 
emigrated  to  Erie  county,  New  York,  the  then  "far  west,"  and  began 
the  slow  and  tedious  labor  of  making  for  themselves  a  home  in  the 
wilderness. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he  married  Phoebe  Cole,  a  daughter  of  John 
Cole,  Esq.,  a  prominent  citizen  of  that  country.  This  occurred  in  1813, 
and  the  United  States  being  engaged  in  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  young 
Burt  joined  the  American  forces,  and  after  participating  in  an  unsuccess 
ful  attack  on  Fort  Burlington,  Canada,  the  order  was  given  for  the 
soldiers  to  save  themselves  as  best  they  could.  Burt  and  a  companion 
secured  a  canoe,  made  their  way  to  Buffalo,  and  finally  reached  their 
home.  The  following  year  Burt  enlisted  in  the  service  for  another  term 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  515 

the  demand  of  the  President.  The  quota  assigned  to  the  State 
was  18,282,  of  which  a  little  over  12,000  remained  to  be  recruited 
at  the  time  of  issuing  the  proclamation.  The  Adjutant-General 
at  once  issued  orders  authorizing  the  organization  of  six  regi 
ments,  one  in  each  Congressional  district.  Accordingly,  on  the 
twenty-sixth  of  July,  Colonel  J.  W.  Hall  was  authorized  to  reor 
ganize  the  old  Fourth  Infantry,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired. 
On  the  twenty-ninth  of  the  same  month,  Colonel  M.  B.  Hough- 
ton  was  authorized  to  reorganize  the  Third  Infantry,  whose  term 
had  also  expired.  On  the  same  day,  Hon.  J.  F.  Driggs  was 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  the  organization  of  a  new  regiment, 
to  be  called  the  Thirty-first  Infantry.  On  the  ninth  of  August, 
Hon.  S.  S.  Lacey  was  authorized  to  organize  the  Twenty-ninth 
Infantry.  On  the  fifteenth  of  the  same  mouth,  Hon.  W.  B.  Wil 
liams  was  intrusted  with  the  organization  of  the  Twenty-eighth 
Infantry.  On  the  twenty-fourth  of  August,  Major  John  Atkin 
son,  of  the  Twenty-second  Infantry,  was  authorized  to  raise  and 
organize  the  Thirtieth  Infantry. 

Recruiting  now  proceeded  with  renewed  vigor;  but  the  quota 
was  so  great  that  it  was  impossible  to  fill  it  before  the  impend- 

of  sixty  days,  and  served  at  Buffalo  in  the  capacity  of  fife  major.  At 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  was  elected 
magistrate  for  his  district,  and  did  occasional  jobs  of  surveying  for  his 
neighbors. 

Mr.  Burt's  mercantile  career  was  not,  strictly  speaking,  a  success.  This 
failure  in  business,  no  doubt,  induced  him  to  make  a  journey  to  the  far 
west,  which  he  did  in  the  autumn  of  1817. 

His  journal  of  this  expedition  is  very  interesting,  and  we  regret  that 
our  limited  space  prevents  us  from  giving  it  to  our  readers.  He  left  the 
outlet  of  Chautauqua  Lake,  on  the  13th  of  August,  1817,  and  after  reach 
ing  the  Alleghany  he  passed  down  that  river  to  the  Ohio,  and  down  the 
Ohio  to  the  Falls  at  Jeffersonville.  From  here,  he  went  overland  to  Vin- 
cennes  and  further  on  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  arrived  on  the  10th  of 
September.  Returning,  he  left  the  latter  place  on  the  25th  of  the  same 
month,  and  after  passing  through  Vincennes  and  Fort  Harrison,  he 
reached  Detroit  on  the  28th  of  October,  remained  until  the  30th,  when  he 
took  passage  on  the  schooner  Washington,  for  Buffalo,  which  place  he 
reached  on  the  5th  of  November. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1822,  he  came  to  Michigan  in  hopes  of  getting 


516  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

ing  draft  took  place.  On  the  tenth  of  June  a  draft  was  made, 
but  even  that-did  not  fill  the  quota,  and  another  draft  was  ordered 
to  take  place  in  subdistricts ;  and  again,  on  the  twentieth  of 
September,  still  another.  The  result  of  these  efforts  during  the 
first  ten  months  of  1864  was  as  follows :  Volunteers,  20,041 ; 
drafted  men,  1,956 ;  veterans  reenlisted,  5,545  ;  enlisted  in  the 
navy,  430  ;  total  credits  in  numbers,  27,972.  Of  these,  356  paid 
commutation  money  previous  to  the  act  abolishing  commutation, 
deducting  which  would  leave  the  total  number  of  men  actually 
raised  during  ten  months,  27,616.  The  total  credit  to  the  State 
up  to  this  time  from  the  beginning  of  the  war  was  83,347. 

On  the  third  of  September,  authority  was  given  to  Colonel  W. 
L.  Stoughton  to  reorganize  the  Eleventh  Infantry.  In  November 
a  regiment  was  raised  for  the  defense  of  the  eastern  border  of 
Michigan.  The  term  of  enlistment  was  twelve  months.  This  regi 
ment  was  called  the  Thirtieth  Infantry,  and  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  G.  S.  Wormer. 

It  was  now  hoped  that  no  more  calls  would  be  made ;  but,  on 
the  nineteenth  of  December,  the  President  issued  a  call  for  "  three 
hundred  thousand  more,"  to  supply  a  deficiency  in  the  call  of  July 

employment  in  the  public  land  surveys,  or  in  lieu  thereof,  to  engage  in 
mill  building.  After  his  arrival,  he  worked  for  a  while  at  his  trade,  and 
built  a  saw  mill  at  Auburn,  Oakland  county.  Then,  taking  an  Indian 
trail  to  the  Indian  trading  post  at  Flint,  Mr.  Burt  went  in  search  of  the 
government  land  surveyor,  Mr.  Fletcher,  who  was  in  that  vicinity,  sub 
dividing  the  towns  into  sections.  Returning  from  thence,  he  made  a 
selection  of  government  land  in  the  present  township  of  Washington, 
Macomb  county,  upon  which  he  moved  his  family  in  the  season  of  1824. 
From  this  date  until  1833,  he  was  mainly  occupied  in  mill  building  and 
in  local  surveying.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  territorial  council 
in  1826,  and  served  in  1826-27.  He  was  elected  county  surveyor  of 
Macomb  county  in  1831,  and  served  three  years.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  been  appointed  district  surveyor  by  Governor  George  B.  Porter  in 
1832.  At  this  time  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Mt.  Vernon,  an  office 
which  he  held  for  twenty-four  years.  April  23,  1833,  he  was  appointed 
an  associate  judge  for  the  Macomb  circuit.  In  the  autumn  of  1833,  he 
received  his  appointment  as  United  States  deputy  surveyor  from  the  sur 
veyor  general's  office  at  Cincinnati,  for  the  district  northwest  of  the  Ohio, 


518  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

eighteenth,  and  designated  the  fifteenth  of  February  as  the  day 
for  another  draft,  in  case  the  quota  should  not  be  full.  Accord 
ingly,  the  enrollment  was  at  once  corrected,  and  the  quotas 
assigned  to  each  subdistrict.  This  done,  it  was  found  that  in  the 
State  there  were  on  the  enrollment  77,999  men  subject  to  draft. 
The  quota  for  the  State  under  the  call  was  10,010. 

But  the  end  was  now  approaching.  The  close  of  the  year  found 
Sherman  in  possession  of  Savannah,  Thomas  triumphant  in  Ten 
nessee,  and  Grant  in  the  trenches  before  Petersburgh.  Michigan 
had  nobly  done  her  duty,  under  the  statesmanlike  guidance  of  her 
"  Great  War  Governor  " — a  title  nobly  earned  by  Austin  Blair 
during  the  four  eventful  years  of  his  administration.  His  term 
of  office  was  now  drawing  to  a  close.  On  the  fifth  of  January, 
1865,  the  Legislature  met,  and  Governor  Blair  prepared  to  vacate 
the  chair  he  had  filled  with  such  distinguished  ability.  Nobly 
had  he  performed  his  duty  to  the  State,  the  government,  and  to 
the  soldiers  of  Michigan.  The  soldiers  in  the  field  he  never  suf 
fered  himself  to  forget,  and  on  retiring  from  office,  his  last  official 
utterances  were  addressed  to  them  and  in  their  behalf.  The  fol 
lowing  beautiful  tribute  paid  to  them  in  his  valedictory  message 

and  immediately  left  for  the  field,  his  district  of  survey  lying  northward 
of  Fort  Gratiot,  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Huron. 

During  all  these  years  of  unsuccessful  endeavor  to  obtain  employment 
in  the  public  land  surveys,  his  inventive  genius  had  not  been  idle;  and 
soon  after  his  removal  to  Michigan  he  had  constructed  a  simple  but  prac 
tical  printing  apparatus,  whereby  business  men  could  conduct  their  cor 
respondence  by  printed  letter.  The  invention,  however,  failed  to  come 
into  general  use,  and  for  want  of  adequate  means  to  make  the  enterprise 
a  success,  the  project  was  abandoned. 

As  early  as  18353,  he  had  conceived  the  idea  and  discovered  the  prin 
ciples  that  resulted  in  the  invention  of  the  solar  compass — that  crowning 
achievement  of  his  life.  He  began  soon  after  the  construction  of  a 
model,  which  he  exhibited  in  1835  to  a  committee  of  the  Franklin  Insti 
tute  of  Philadelphia,  of  which  scientific  body  he  was  a  member.  The 
institute  unanimously  awarded  him  a  Scott's  legacy  medal.  This  result 
was  highly  gratifying  and  gave  him  much  encouragement,  emanating 
as  it  did  from  the  first  scientific  body  in  the  land.  In  the  meantime  he  •. 
was  engaged  in  the  public  land  surveys  in  Iowa  and  west  of  the  Missis- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  519 

on  that  occasion  is  not  only  characteristic  of  the  man  who  uttered 
it,  but  finds  a  response  in  the  heart  of  every  patriot : 

"GENTLEMEN— Again,  and  for  the  last  time,  I  commend  the 
Michigan  troops  to  your  continued  care  and  support.  They  have 
never  failed  in  their  duty  to  the  country  or  to  the  State.  Upon 
every  great  battle-field  of  the  war  their  shouts  have  been  heard 
and  their  sturdy  blows  have  been  delivered  for  the  Union  and 
victory.  Their  hard-earned  fame  is  the  treasure  of  every  house 
hold  in  the  State,  and  the  red  blood  of  their  veins  has  been 
poured  out  in  large  measure  to  redeem  the  rebellious  South  from 
its  great  sin  and  curse.  At  this  hour  they  stand  under  the  flag 
of  their  country,  far  away  from  home,  in  every  quarter  where  the 
enemy  is  to  be  met — along  the  banks  of  the  father  of  waters,  in 
the  great  city  at  its  mouths,  on  the  Arkansas,  in  the  captured  forts 
of  the  Gulf,  by  the  waters  of  the  Cumberland,  the  Tennessee,  and 
of  the  Savannah,  in  the  chief  city  of  the  Empire  State  of  the 
South,  among  the  conquering  columns  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shen- 
andoah,  and  in  the  trenches  under  the  eye  of  the  Lieutenant- 
General  in  the  great  leaguer  of  Petersburg  and  Richmond.  Alas, 
that  they  are  also  perishing  of  cold  and  hunger,  and  disease,  in 

sippi,  also  in  Wisconsin,  making  the  subdivisions  near  where  the  city  of 
Milwaukee  now  stands.  This  was  in  the  winter  of  1834-35.  In  1838,  he 
was  elected  one  of  the  commissioners  of  public  improvements  for  the 
State  of  Michigan,  which  had  but  recently  been  admitted  into  the  Union. 
Michigan  was  then  entering  upon  a  career  of  vast  internal  improvements 
by  way  of  canals  and  railways,  and  the  people  of  the  State  may  feel  well 
assured  that  through  the  sound  sense  and  practical  knowledge  of  William 
A.  Burt,  some  millions  of  dollars  were  saved  to  the  taxpayers  of  the 
State. 

; .  Mr.  Burt  had  not,  in  the  meantime,  suffered  his  inventive  genius  to 
remain  idle.  His  solar  compass  had  occupied  largely  his  thoughts,- and 
many  alterations  and  improvements  had  been  made  as  practical  use 
seemed  to  suggest.  On  the  14th  of  December,  1840,  he  exhibited  to  the 
Franklin  Institute,  a  perfect  solar  compass,  for  which  he  received,  by 
order  of  the  committee  through  William  Hamilton  Actuary,  the  highest 
commendation  and  a  most  gratifying  and  able  support  on  the  value  of 
his  invention. 

From  1840  to  1847,  he  was  mostly  occupied  in  the  public  land  surveys 
of  northern  Michigan,  near  Chocolate  River,  Lake  Superior,  but  he  pub- 


520  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  filthy  rebel  prisons  and  pestilential  camps  of  the  South.  In 
every  situation  their  bravery  has  won  the  approval  of  their  com 
manders,  and  their  heroic  endurance  of  hardships  has  added 
lustre  to  their  name.  It  is  my  sole  regret  at  quitting  office  that  I 
part  with  them.  My  earnest  efforts  for  their  good  shall  follow 
them  while  I  live,  and  now  from  this  place  I  bid  them  hail,  and 
farewell!" 

The  Legislature  responded  by  passing  resolutions  highly  com 
plimentary  to  Governor  Blair,  and  tendering  the  grateful  thanks 
of  the  people  of  Michigan  for  the  able  and  satisfactory  manner 
in  which  he  had  conducted  the  affairs  of  the  State  during  the 
four  years  of  his  administration. 

On  the  retirement  of  Governor  Blair,  Henry  H.  Crapo  was 
inaugurated  Governor  of  Michigan.  He  was  a  man  possessing 
sterling  qualities  of  mind  and  heart,  great  executive  ability,  scru 
pulous  honesty  of  purpose,  and  strong  and  inherent  patriotism. 
He  came  to  the  executive  chair  at  a  time  when  all  these  qualities 
were  required,  in  an  eminent  degree,  in  the  chief  magistrate  of 
the  State.  The  nation  was  engaged  in  the  last  desperate  struggle 
with  the  great  rebellion.  The  resources  of  the  whole  people  were 

lished  a  small  manual  for  the  adjustment  and  use  of  the  solar  compass, 
which  was  of  very  great  benefit  to  those  using  the  instrument. 

In  that  year,  he  was  associated  with  the  lamented  Dr.  Douglass  Hough- 
ton,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  linear  and  geological  surveys.  In  the 
autumn  of  1845,  on  the  13th  of  October,  Dr.  Houghton  lost  his  life  by 
the  upsetting  of  a  boat  during  a  storm  on  Lake  Superior.  Owing  to  his 
death,  Judge  Burt  had  the  geological  reports  to  make  out,  which  he  did 
with  marked  ability  and  entire  satisfaction  to  the  department.  The 
labor  of  those  years  was  enormous.  Great  numbers  of  specimens  were 
collected  and  properly  labeled.  The  immense  body  of  iron  ore  south  of 
Teal  Lake  was  discovered  by  him  on  September  19,  1844;  and  during  that 
season  and  the  year  1846,  more  than  twenty  beds  of  iron  ore  were  dis 
covered  by  him  and  reported  to  the  world,  thus  giving  some  idea  of  the 
vast  hidden  wealth  of  northern  Michigan.  No  other  living  man  had 
done  so  much  or  placed  his  information  in  such  tangible  shape  for  the 
general  good,  and  public  attention  was  at  once  turned  in  that  direction. 

In  the  summer  of  1851,  Mr.  Burt  visited  Europe,  for  the  purpose  of 
exhibiting  his  instrument  at  the  world's  fair,  in  London.  He  took  the 
occasion  while  there  to  visit  the  eminent  geologist,  Hugh  Miller,  at  Edin- 


522  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

being  taxed  to  the  utmost  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  hour.  The 
bone  and  sinew  of  the  State,  the  flower  of  its  population,  were  in 
the  trenches  before  Petersburg,  with  Thomas  in  his  struggle  in  the 
Southwest,  with  Sherman  on  his  grand  "march  to  the  sea,"  or  sleep 
ing  beneath  the  bloody  sod  of  a  thousand  battle-fields,  or  languish 
ing  in  the  dark,  dismal,  and  pestilential  prisons  of  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  Thousands  of  widows  and  orphans  were  at  home, 
demanding  the  care  which  a  grateful  people  could  not  withhold. 
The  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  were  in  every  hospital,  the  heroic 
dead  in  every  cemetery.  The  treasury,  State  and  national,  was 
being  rapidly  depleted.  Every  city,  village,  ward,  and  township 
had  taxed  itself  to  the  utmost  to  meet  the  demands  of  patriotism. 
The  war  was  not  yet  ended,  and  the  nation  demanded  of  Michigan 
ten  thousand  more  of  her  sons.  Truly  it  required  a  strong  heart 
and  a  steady  hand  to  enable  the  new  executive  to  meet  the 
demands  of  the  hour,  and  preserve  to  the  State  the  brilliant  and 
unsullied  record  she  had  made  during  the  administration  of  her 
great  War  Governor.  How  well  Governor  Crapo  performed  the 
task,  every  citizen  of  Michigan  can  testify. 

Happily,    however,  but  little  of  the  war  record  of   Michigan 

burg,  Scotland,  whose  writings  had  given  him  so  much  pleasure  and 
profit.  He  also  visited  Paris,  and  returning  to  London,  he  received  a 
prize  medal  from  the  jurors  on  astronomical  instruments,  and  the  fol 
lowing  certificate  from  Prince  Albert. 

"  I  hereby  certify  that  her  majesty's  commissioners,  upon  the  award  of 
the  jurors,  have  presented  a  prize  medal  to  Wm.  A.  Burt,  for  a  Solar 
Compass  and  surveying  instrument  shown  the  exhibition. 

ALBERT, 

President  of  the  Royal  Commission. 
Hyde  Park,  London,  October  15,  1851." 

Returning  home  in  the  fall  of  1852,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
legislature,  and  among  the  duties  discharged  by  him  was  that  of  chairman 
of  the  committee  on  St.  Mary's  Falls  ship  canal,  of  the  session  of  1852-3. 
To  him,  it  is  confidently  believed,  may  be  attributed  the  success  of  favor 
able  legislation  and  for  the  speedy  construction  of  that  work,  so  impor 
tant  to  the  State  and  country. 

During  the  summer  of  1855,  Mr.  Burt  compiled  a  manual,  which  he 
published,  and  which  he  entitled  "A  Key  to  the  Solar  Compass  and  Sur 
veyor's  Companion." 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  523 

remains  to  be  told.  The  beginning  of  the  year  1865,  as  has  been 
seen,  found  the  State  with  a  draft  impending  for  more  than  ten 
thousand  men.  On  the  first  of  January  the  Eleventh  Regiment 
of  Infantry  was  being  recruited.  The  organization  of  the  Thirti 
eth,  designed  for  duty  on  the  Detroit  and  St.  Glair  rivers,  was 
completed  on  the  ninth,  and  at  once  assigned  to  duty.  On  the 
fourth  of  March  four  companies  of  the  Eleventh  left  for  Nash 
ville,  and  on  the  eighteenth,  the  remaining  six  companies  followed, 
under  command  of  Colonel  P.  H.  Keegan.  The  whole  force  con 
sisted  of  898  officers  and  men.  On  the  fourth  of  February  the 
Legislature  offered  $150,  State  bounty,  and  authorized  townships 
to  pay  $100.  These  bounties  continued  to  be  paid  until  the  four 
teenth  of  April,  when  recruiting  ceased  within  the  State. 

The  war  had  now  drawn  to  a  close.  On  the  ninth  of  April 
General  Lee  surrendered  his  army  to  General  Grant.  The  surren 
der  of  Johnston  to  Sherman  soon  followed. 

Previous  to  this,  and  subsequent  to  November  1st,  1864,  there 
had  been  raised  in  the  State  9,382  recruits.  Of  these,  7,547  vol 
untarily  enlisted  in  the  army,  53  in  the  navy,  and  1,782 'were 
drafted.  The  Adjutant-General's  report  shows  that  the  total 

In  1856,  he  obtained  letters  patent  in  the  United  States,  England, 
France  and  Belgium,  for  the  Equatorial  Sextant.  This  instrument  had 
cost  him  more  brain  labor  than  the  solar  compass,  and  is  of  ingenious 
construction  and  of  much  promise  to  the  navy  and  mercantile  marine, 
its  powers  being  ascertained  by  Lieutenant  Maury,  as  follows: 

"The  Equatorial  Sextant  being  manipulated  properly,  it  will  show 
without  computation,  but  by  a  simple  reading  off,  the  latitude,  hour, 
angle,  and  azimuth,  and  this  at  any  time  of  day,  thus  giving  the  position 
of  a  ship  at  sea  at  once,  with  the  use  of  a  chronometer." 

Unfortunately  for  the  interest  of  commerce  and  the  commercial  world, 
the  inventor  was  not  permitted  to  perfect  the  instrument.  He  died  of 
heart  disease,  August  18,  1858,  at  his  home  in  Detroit.  Surrounded  by 
his  family,  he  passed  peaceably  away,  and  was  buried  at  the  family 
grounds  at  Mt.  Vernon,  near  his  first  home  in  Michigan. 

Mr.  Burt  was  a.  Christian  man,  and  led  a  Christian  life.  The  religion 
he  professed  he  practiced.  There  was  nothing  spasmodic  about  it.  It 
was  of  practical  moment  to  him  and  influenced  his  life  all  through.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  founders  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Mt.  Vernon,  and 
always  a  liberal  contributor  to  its  various  objects,  and  throughout  life  a 


524  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

number  of  men  furnished  by  Michigan,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
war  to  its  close,  was  ninety  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty- 
seven.  The  sum  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  by 
drafted  citizens  of  Michigan  as  commutation  money  was  five  hun 
dred  and  ninety-four  thousand  six  hundred  dollars. 

The  task  of  the  soldiers  of  Michigan  was  now  ended.  How 
nobly  they  had  performed  their  duty,  every  one  knows;  and  the 
pages  of  history  will  tell  the  story  of  their  patriotism  and  heroic 
deeds  to  thousands  of  generations  yet  unborn. 

On  the  fourth  day  of  June,  1865,  the  Twentieth  Regiment 
returned  home.  Others  followed  in  succession,  but  it  was  not  till 
the  tenth  of  June,  1866,  that  the  last  regiment  arrived  in  the 
State.  The  Third  and  Fourth  Infantry  were  the  last  to  leave  the 
field. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  June,  1865,  Governor  Crapo  issued  a  pro 
clamation  of  thanks  to  the  Michigan  troops.  After  speaking  of 
the  untold  toils  and  hardships  they  had  endured,  of  their  bravery 
and  patriotism,  their  honorable  scars,  and  their  heroic  dead,  he 
closed  as  follows : 

"  In  the  name  of  the  people  of  Michigan,  I  thank  you  for  the 

consistent  member.  His  life  was  one  of  constant  activity.  He  possessed 
a  strong,  compact  frame,  capable  of  enduring  great  fatigue,  which  many 
times  was  put  to  the  utmost  test  in  his  great  labors  in  the  wilderness.  His 
perceptions  were  quick  and  elastic,  and  his  judgment  was  seldom  if  ever 
at  fault.  Without  the  education  of  the  schools,  he  possessed  that  practi 
cal  education  which  was  the  result  of  a  lifetime  of  earnest  thought  and 
labor,  and  he  was  recognized  among  scholars  as  a  teacher  in  all  that  per 
tained  to  science.  It  was  only  by  labor — persistent  and  determined  labor 
— that  he  had  accomplished  so  much.  Working  his  way  up  by  toil  and 
through  privation,  striving  for  a  livelihood  by  day  and  laboring  in  the 
interests  of  science  by  night,  he  has  given  to  the  world  a  valuable  inven 
tion,  and  to  himself  an  immortal  name.  A  pioneer  in  the  State  of  Mich 
igan,  he  had  lived  to  see  it  one  of  the  first  in  the  nation,  a  result  to  which 
he  had  largely  contributed,  and  the  people  of  the  Peninsular  State  will 
ever  have  a  warm  place  in  their  hearts  for  the  memory  of  William  A. 
Burt. 

Mr.  Burt  had  five  sons,  viz:  John,  Alvin,  Austin,  Wells  and  William, 
all  but  one  of  whom  (Alvin)  are  now  living,  and  were  for  many  years 
his  associates  in  the  surveys  of  the  public  lands. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


525 


honor  you  have  done  us  by  your  valor,  your  soldierly  bearing, 
your  invincible  courage  everywhere  displayed,  whether  upon  the 
field  of  battle,  in  the  perilous  assault,  or  in  the  deadly  breach  ; 
for  your  patience  under  the  fatigues  and  privations  and  sufferings 


HORACE    R.   GARDNER. 

HORACE  R.  GARDNER  was  born  at  Auburn,  New  York,  March  25,  1827. 
Ten  years  later  he  removed  from  Onondaga  county,  with  his  father,  John 
G.  Gardner,  to  Hillsdale  county,  Michigan,  and  was  engaged  with  him  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  flour,  and  in  farming,  until  the  year  1857, 
when  he  became  interested  in  the  Jonesville  Woolen  Mills.  In  1859,  he 
became  associated  with  Ransom  Gardner,  under  the  firm  name  of  H.  R. 
Gardner  &  Co.,  and  greatly  increased  the  capacity  of  the  factory,  soon 
making  it  one  of  the  most  extensive  of  its  kind  in  the  West.  The 
factory  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  3d  of  January,  1866,  but  was  rebuilt 
and  greatly  enlarged  the  same  year,  and  manufacturing  resumed  within 
nine  months  after  the  fire. 


526  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    STATES. 

incident  to  war,  and  for  your  discipline  and  ready  obedience  to 
the  orders  of  your  superiors.  We  are  proud  in  believing  that 
when  the  history  of  this  rebellion  shall  have  been  written,  where 
all  have  done  well,  none  will  stand  higher  on  the  roll  of  fame  than 
the  officers  and  soldiers  sent  to  the  field  from  the  loyal  and  patri 
otic  State  of  Michigan." 

The  total  number  of  troops  furnished  by  Michigan,  as  we  have 
before  seen,  was  90,747.  Of  these,  67,468  were  natives  of  the 
United  States  ;  of  British  America,  inclusive  of  Canada,  8,886 ; 
of  Europe,  14,393.  In  regard  to  color,  they  were  divided  as  fol 
lows  :  White,  88,941 ;  colored,  1,661  ;  Indians,  145.  When  it  is 
remembered  that  the  total  population  in  the  State,  in  1864,  was 
but  805,379,  Michigan  may  well  be  proud  of  her  war  record. 

The  number  of  enlisted  men  who  died  in  action  or  of  wounds 
was  3,926.  The  number  who  died  of  disease  was  9,133.  The 
number  of  commissioned  officers  who  died  of  wounds  or  in  action 
was  249.  The  number  who  died  of  disease  was  97.  The  total  of 
all  classes  was  13,405. 

The  State  Legislature,  from  time  to  time,  during  the  war,  passed 
laws  for  the  payment  of  bounties  to  soldiers  enlisting.  These 
bounties  ranged  from  $50  to  $150.  The  Quartermaster-General 
paid  out  in  all  nearly  $2,000,000  for  this  purpose  alone.  He  also 

In  1872,  Mr.  Gardner  became  interested  in  the  organization  and  con 
struction  of  the  Jonesville  Cotton  Factory.  This  is  the  first  cotton 
factory  in  Michigan,  and  was  erected  by  a  joint  stock  company,  with  a 
capital  of  $100,000,  of  which  Mr.  Gardner  was  elected  president. 
Through  his  indomitable  energy,  and  his  extensive  acquaintance, 
formed  during  his  connection  with  the  woolen  mills,  subscriptions  were 
rapidly  received  for  the  entire  amount  of  stock,  and  the  factory  is  now 
in  successful  operation.  The  best  grade  of  cloth  made  at  the  factory  is 
branded  "  Gardner  A." 

Mr.  Gardner  has  been  vice  president  of  the  Northwestern  Manufac 
turers'  Association  since  its  organization,  and  a  director  of  the  National 
Manufacturers'  Association,  the  headquarters  of  which  are  at  Boston. 

Through  his  correct  business  deportment,  his  long  residence  in  the 
village,  and  the  interest  he  has  taken  in  every  enterprise  tending  to 
increase  its  prosperity,  Mr.  Gardner  is  deservedly  one  of  the  most  popu 
lar  citizens  of  Jonesville. 


HISTOKY   OP   MICHIGAN.  527 

paid  $60,000  as  premiums  for  procuring  recruits.  Aside  from 
these  amounts,  he  paid  out  $815,000  for  other  purposes  connected 
with  the  war. 

Besides  these  expenditures  by  the  State,  the  aggregate  amount 
expended  by  the  several  counties  of  the  State  for  war  purposes  is 
something  enormous.  The  amount  paid  for  bounties  by  the  coun 
ties  prior  to  December  19th,  1863,  and  liabilities;  also  liabilities 
under  the  act  of  1865,  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  $2,015,588. 

The  aggregate  expenditures  and  liabilities  of  the  various  town 
ships,  cities  and  wards  of  the  counties  in  the  State  for  war  pur 
poses  was  $8,157,748.70.  The  amount  expended  by  the  counties 
of  the  State  from  1861  to  1867,  for  the  relief  of  soldiers'  families, 
was  $3,591,248.12. 

Aside  from  the  expenditures  of  the  State  government  and  of  the 
municipalities,  large  sums  were  contributed  by  various  benevolent 
societies,  organized  for  the  purpose  of  aifording  relief  to  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  The  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Association 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  of  the  kind  put  into  the  field,  and  the 
last  to  leave  it.  It  was  organized  in  1861,  and  continued  in 
operation  till  1866.  It  was  a  source  of  great  benefit  to  the  sol 
diers  of  Michigan,  giving  them  many  comforts  and  necessaries  of 
which  they  would  otherwise  have  been  deprived.  Its  field  of 
operations  was  in  and  around  Washington,  and  was  composed 
of  citizens  of  Michigan  who  resided  there,  including  the  Congres 
sional  delegation.  Its  funds  were  at  first  raised  by  assessments  on 
its  individual  members,  but  were  afterwards  largely  augmented  by 
contributions  from  all  parts  of  the  State.  The  cash  contributed 
amounted  to  nearly  twenty-five  thousand  dollars.  This  was  exclu 
sive  of  specific  contributions  of  clothing  and  hospital  stores,  which 
were  always  furnished,  with  great  liberality,  by  the  various  aid 
societies  in  the  State.  The  services  of  the  members  of  the  associ 
ation  were  in  all  cases  rendered  gratuitously. 

In  addition  to  the  Washington  association,  the  people  of  the 
State  organized,  in  1862,  the  Michigan  Soldiers'  Relief  Associa 
tion.  It  continued  in  successful  operation  during  the  war,  collect 
ing  and  sending  to  the  front  such  articles  as  were  most  needed  by 
the  sick  and  wounded  soldiers.  It  also  received  $3,600  in  cash, 


528  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

which  was  expended  in  furnishing  relief  to  sick  and  destitute  sol 
diers  ;  in  paying  rent  for  the  Soldiers'  Home,  in  Detroit,  and  in 
providing  refreshments  for  returned  veterans. 

The  Michigan  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  was  another  most  useful 
association.  This  was  a  branch  of  the  United  States  Sanitary 
Commission.  It  was  organized  in  November,  1861,  and  kept  its 
office  open  till  1866,  and  after  that  continued  to  supply  destitute 
soldiers  and  soldiers'  families.  It  forwarded  to  the  front  and  dis 
tributed  at  home  6,317  packages  of  articles  which  had  been  con 
tributed  in  kind.  From  the  date  of  its  organization  to  1868,  it 
had  expended  in  cash  the  sum  of  $28,129. 

These  societies  were  largely  aided,  in  1864,  by  the  Ladies  Aid 
Society  of  Kalamazoo,  under  whose  auspices  a  "  Sanitary  Fair " 
was  held,  which  netted  the  handsome  sum  of  $9,618.78. 

In  addition,  to  the  aid  furnished  by  these  societies  there  were 
large  amounts  of  both  money  and  supplies  sent  by  private  parties. 
In  fact,  the  history  of  the  world  does  not  furnish  a  parallel  to  the 
liberality  with  which  the  Union  armies  were  sustained,  and  the 
soldiers  relieved,  by  contributions  from  the  people.  Volumes 
would  have  to  be  written  to  give  an  adequate  idea  of  the  immense 
labor  performed  by  these  societies,  and  to  enumerate  their  deeds 
of  Christian  charity. 

In  February,  1864,  the  State  Legislature  appropriated  $3,500 
for  the  purpose  of  paying  the  proportion  of  the  State  of  the 
expenses  of  establishing  a  National  Cemetery  at  Gettysburg. 
Hon.  T.  W.  Ferry  was  appointed  a  commissioner  to  carry  out  the 
design.  A  further  sum  of  $2,500  was  appropriated  for  this  pur 
pose  in  1865.  This  cemetery  contains  3,559  bodies  of  Michigan 
soldiers.  Numerically,  Michigan  stands  third  in  the  number  slain 
on  that  battle-field.  In  proportion  to  her  population,  she  stands 
first.  Mr.  Ferry  closes  his  final  report,  made  to  the  Governor  in 
1864,  as  follows  : 

"  It  will,  however,  matter  little,  who  were  immediately  instru 
mental  in  devising  and  developing  the  sacred  memorial  which  is 
to  hand  down  to  future  generations  the  lustrous  records  of  patriots 
who  prized  country  above  life. 

"  They  will  be  forgotten,  while  shaft,  and  speech  and  song  shall 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  529 

tell  of  battle  and  heroism  to  ages  yet  unborn.  The  decisive  con 
test — the  turning  strife  of  the  war,  from  which  victory,  leaping 
from  field  to  field,  eventuated  in  peace,  national  liberty  and 
reunion — this,  this  alone  will  be  the  enduring,  emblazoning  chap- 


HON.    THOMAS   W.    FERRY. 

THOMAS  W.  FERRY,  United  States  Senator  from  Michigan,  was  born  at 
Mackinaw,  Michigan,  June  1,  1827. 

A  little  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  the  father  of  Senator  Ferry 
emigrated  from  Massachusetts,  and  founded  a  mission  school  upon  the 
Island  of  Mackinac.  Here,  for  twelve  years,  in  a  somewhat  social  isola 
tion,  he  maintained  his  school  successfully,  and  only  left  his  post  when 
the  government  removed  the  Indians  farther  west.  Leaving  Mack 
inac  in  a  canoe  with  a  couple  of  Indians  as  guides  and  oarsmen,  he  coasted 
along  down  the  eastern  and  southern  shores  of  Lake  Michigan  until  he 
reached  a  military  post  where  Chicago  now  stands.  Returning  part  way, 
he  chose  the  site  where  the  city  of  Grand  Haven  now  is  as  his  future 
residence. 

34 


530  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

let  which  time  shall  weave  for  the  gallant  heroes  who  sleep 
beneath  the  shadow  of  the  nation's  mausoleum  at  Gettysburg." 

An  appropriation  of  $3,344.48  was  also  made  by  the  Legisla 
ture  to  pay  the  proportion  of  the  State  for  the  purchase,  prepara 
tion  and  care  of  the  National  Cemetery  at  Sharpsburg,  Maryland. 
In  this  cemetery  rest  137  of  Michigan's  soldiers.  Andersonville, 
Georgia,  which  acquired  such  an  unenviable  notoriety  during 
the  war  as  a  rebel  prison  pen,  in  which  the  most  inhuman  bar 
barities  were  practiced,  contains  one  of  the  most  noted  of  the 
national  cemeteries.  It  contains  about  13,000  graves  of  Union 
soldiers,  six  hundred  and  twenty-three  of  whom  were  from  Mich 
igan. 

Michigan  was  not  entirely  free  from  war's  alarms,  notwithstand 
ing  her  remoteness  from  the  scene  of  conflict.  Being  on  the 
Canadian  border,  she  was  much  exposed  to  raids  by  rebel  refugees 
who  had  taken  up  their  residence  in  Canada. 

The  following,  condensed  from  Adjutant-General  Kobertson's 
report  for  1864,  is  an  account  of  the  principal  occurrence  of  the 
kind  which  affected  the  State  of  Michigan : 

At  that  time  there  was  not  a  white  inhabitant  in  the  entire  county,  and 
only  three  miserable  log  huts  broke  the  monotony  of  its  dense  pine  forests. 
Here,  through  all  the  hardships  and  adversities  of  a  pioneer  life,  the 
family  dwelt,  but  after  a  time  emigration  set  in,  and  better  times  dawned 
upon  the  little  settlement. 

Mr  Ferry,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  but  six  years  of  age  when  he 
left  the  Island  of  Mackinac,  and  going  at  that  early  day  to  where  Grand 
Haven  now  stands,  his  educational  advantages  were  very  meagre,  being 
only  those  offered  by  a  pioneer  settlement  Still,  under  home  tutorship, 
he  acquired  a  fair  education  and  a  good  practical  training. 

His  first  public  occupation  was  supplying  the  settlement  with  mails 
jointly  with  his  brother,  William  M.  Ferry,  by  paddling  a  canoe  to  and 
from  Grand  Rapids  during  the  season  of  navigation.  Naturally  active, 
he  served  on  his  fathers  farm  and  in  his  saw  mill,  and  at  a  later  date  was 
clerk  in  a  store  in  Illinois  for  two  years.  Returning,  he  ree"ntered  the 
employ  of  his  father  and  remained  with  him  until  a  partnership  was 
formed  between  them,  which  continued  until  his  father's  death,  in  1867, 
since  which  time  an  extensive  business,  with  his  brother,  E.  P.  Ferry, 
has  been  under  the  general  control  of  Senator  Ferry.  In  this  position, 
he  has  exhibited  a  wide  executive  capacity,  great  industry,  and  an  enter- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  531 

"In  November,  1863,  the  War  Department  was  officially  notified 
by  the  British  Minister,  Lord  Lyons,  that,  from  a  telegraphic 
dispatch  received  by  him  from  the  Governor-General  of  Canada, 
there  was  reason  to  believe  that  a  plot  was  on  foot  by  persons 
hostile  to  the  United  States,  who  had  found  an  asylum  in  Canada, 
to  invade  the  States  on  that  frontier ;  tljat  they  proposed  to  take 
possession  of  some  of  the  steamers  on  Lake  Erie,  to  surprise 
Johnson's  Island,  near  Sandusky,  and  set  free  the  rebel  prisoners  of 
war  confined  there,  and  proceed  with  them  to  attack  Buffalo. 
This  information  was  communicated  by  the  War  Department  to 
the  Governors  of  the  States  bordering  on  Canada,  and  to  the  mili 
tary  and  civil  authorities  thereof,  and  urging  them  to  employ  all 
the  means  in  their  power  to  suppress  any  attempt  to  carry  the 
plot  into  effect.  That  there  was  such  a  scheme  on  foot,  and  that 
it  was  concocted  and  put  in  operation  in  Canada  by  the  rebel  gov 
ernment,  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  circumstances  have  transpired 
and  documentary  evidence  been  received  during  the  past  year 
fully  confirming  it,  and  that  its  execution  was  only  prevented  at 

prise  that  has  made  his  management  eminently  prosperous.  In  a  readi 
ness  to  engage  in  active  pursuits,  was  laid  the  foundation  for  the  energy 
and  versatility  which  characterizes  his  public  life. 

Mr.  Ferry's  early  education  was  such  as  to  cause  him  to  unite  with  the 
old  Whig  party,  with  which  he  acted  until  the  organization  of  the  Repub 
lican  party,  when,  imbibing  the  zeal  of  his  father,  he  at  once  became  a 
strong  advocate  of  the  principles  put  forward  by  that  organization. 

His  more  than  ordinary  abilities  soon  brought  him  to  the  front,  and  we 
find  him  holding  the  office  of  county  clerk  of  Ottawa  county  before  he 
attained  his  majority. 

In  1850,  he  was  elected  a  representative  to  the  State  legislature  and 
served  two  years.  He  also  served  two  years  as  State  senator  from  1857, 
and  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  central  committee  for  eight 
years.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  at  Chicago  which  nominated 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  presidency,  and  served  as  vice-president  from 
Michigan  in  that  body.  In  1864,  he  was  appointed  to  represent  Michi 
gan  on  the  board  of  managers  of  the  Gettysburg  Soldiers'  National 
Cemetery,  which  position  he  still  retains. 

In  1864,  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress 
from  the  fourth  district,  and  served  on  the  committees  on  post-offices  and 
post-roads,  militia  and  the  war  debts  of  the  loyal  States,  and  was  selected  as 


532  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

that  time  by  the  prompt  measures  taken  by  the  military  authori 
ties  in  the  States  referred  to ;  and,  although  their  plans  were  frus 
trated,  their  determination  was  still  to  carry  them  into  effect,  and 
their  execution  was  only  deferred  until  a  more  favorable  oppor 
tunity.  During  the  present  year  the  United  States  military  offi 
cers,  and  also  the  civil  and  military  authorities  of  the  State,  have 
been  almost  daily  in  the  receipt  of  rumors  and  reports  from  various 
sources  of  contemplated  raids  to  be  made  on  American  frontier 
cities,  and  on  the  shipping  of  the  lakes,  to  burn  and  destroy,  many 
of  which  could  not  be  traced  to  any  reliable  origin,  yet  they 
served  to  keep  up  a  continual  state  of  excitement  and  alarm  in 
the  cities  and  villages  on  the  border  of  the  State,  and  to  require 
the  vigilant  attention  of  the  authorities  ;  and  all  the  preparations 
within  their  power  to  successfully  meet  any  attempted  invasion 
of  the  State  were  made,  which  were  considered  at  the  time  ample 
to  repel  any  force  that  might  be  expected  of  that  description. 
Yet,  notwithstanding,  there  was  a  distrust  and  a  nervous  forebod 
ing  of  coming  mischief  amongst  the  people  of  the  frontier  cities 

the  representative  from  Michigan  to  accompany  the  funeral  cortege  which 
bore  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  from  Washington  to  his  home  in 
Illinois.  He  was  reelected  to  the  Fortieth,  Forty-first  and  Forty  second 
Congresses  by  increased  majorities,  and  served  in  the  sessions  of  the 
Fortieth  and  Forty-first  on  some  of  the  most  important  committees 
of  the  House.  Being  subsequently  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate, 
after  a  heated  contest,  to  succeed  the  Hon.  Jacob  M.  Howard,  he  did  not 
take  his  seat  in  the  House  of  the  Forty  second  Congress.  • 

He  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  March  4,  1871;  was  appointed  a  mem 
ber  of  the  committees  on  finance,  post-offices  and  post-roads,  and  on  the 
District  of  Columbia,  and  is  now  also  chairman  of  the  committee  on  the 
revision  of  the  rules. 

Mr.  Ferry's  course  in  Congress,  both  in  the  House  and  in  the  Senate, 
has  been  such  as  commends  him  to  the  people  of  his  State,  and  the 
United  States.  He  has  labored  zealously  to  forward  the  interests  of 
Michigan  and  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  whole  country.  He  has  done 
much  to  perfect  our  postal  system,  his  work  on  this  committee  eliciting 
the  highest  praise  from  the  press  throughout  the  Union.  To  his  efforts, 
Michigan  is  greatly  indebted  for  the  generous  harbor  and  river  appropria 
tions  she  has  received,  which  aid  so  materially  in  developing  her  vast 
resources,  and  in  the  preservation  of  the  lives  and  property  of  her 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  533 

and  villages.  This  distrust  also  prevailed  among  the  railroad 
agencies,  and  those  engaged  in  the  shipping  on  the  lakes,  which 
led  to  the  arming  of  the  community  generally  as  individuals,  and 
of  railroad  trains  and  lake  and  river  steamers,  and  to  the  estab 
lishing  of  safeguards  about  private  dwellings,  public  places  of 
business,  and  railroad  depots.  This  condition  of  affairs  continued ; 
no  overt  act  having  been  committed,  and  no  visible  combination 
of  force  having  been  traced  to  any  locality  until  the  nineteenth 
day  of  September,  1864,  when  they  concluded  to  make  the  attempt 
by  seizing  the  steamer  Philo  Parsons,  belonging  to  Detroit,  and 
running  as  a  passenger  boat  from  that  point  to  Sandusky,  in  the 
State  of  Ohio.  On  the  morning  of  the  day  above  referred  to,  four 
of  the  raiders,  including  Bennett  G.  Burley,  one  of  their  apparent 
leaders,  took  passage  on  the  said  boat  at  Detroit.  On  her  way 
down  the  Detroit  river,  on  her  passage  to  Sandusky,  she  landed 
at  the  Canadian  ports  of  Sandwich  and  Amherstburg,  where  the 
balance  of  the  raiders  got  on  board,  the  whole  numbering  about 
thirty. 

"  Those  who  went  aboard  at  the  latter  place,  brought  with  them 
a  large  trunk,  which,  as  was  afterwards  ascertained,  contained  arms 

sailors.  He  has  labored  earnestly  for  the  protection  of  Michigan's  lum 
ber  interests,  and  in  the  cause  of  her  soldiers  and  sailors  who  went 
bravely  to  the  front  in  defense  of  the  Union.  His  effort  to  convert  the 
beautiful  Island  of  Maeldnac  into  a  national  park  is  but  one  illustration 
of  the  intense  interest  he  takes  in  the  advancement  of  his  State,  from 
which  he  is  the  first  senator  to  the  manor  bo.rn. 

Mr.  Ferry  received  a  very  complimentary  vote  for  president  pro  tern- 
pore  of  the  Senate,  and  only  for  Senator  Carpenter's  seniority  would 
undoubtedly  have  been  elected  to  that  important  position. 

As  an  orator,  Mr.  Ferry's  powers  lie  mainly  in  extempore  debate.  He 
speaks  from  brief  notes  with  great  fluency,  his  style  possessing  directness, 
vigor  and  business  brevity. 

He  is  a  man  of  good  personal  presence,  and,  being  free  from  all  pre 
sumption,  his  manner  invites  acquaintance.  He  is  modest  and  genial, 
and  although  eminently  successful  in  business  and  politics,  he  makes  no 
attempt  at  display.  In  conversation,  he  is  ready  and  animated  and  enters 
into  all  discussions  with  an  earnestness  that  carries  great  force  with  it. 
He  is  generous,  and  gave  freely  to  the  families  of  the  soldiers  who  were 
absent  doing  duty  for  their  country. 


-7 ATI:-.. 


8.DQ  SjHHnunitJlOIl.       Aflf^lf  fli 

men  came  up  to  the  clerk, 

into  the  la-dies'  cabin.    The 


tured  the  I 


A- 

teamer,  together 


They  then  started  direc% 

i".-.:.  _<  •:-•-.      7:.-  -.,:  :'i-  : 

•      "-       -  -  -'-      ;-_  --•-_.;_  -'_  -•'_:-_     ~'_-:     :' 

.".  "  -"  -  ".    ;-       ".  "  "•  '  -.  '-  '  ~    ':.'..    ~  :. 
which  was  guarding  John 
those  who  were  in  the  plot 
sequence  was  that  when  di 

-:.*  :  -.--••:  M:--:^:..  -  - 


:.\;-"  ~.":.;:-';    ;.;'.  .:.". 
landed  at  Sandwicn,  on  die 

'—:-.:...      'I:..-  '.:.:;    ::    .-'.'f  v 
the  peace  of  the  inhabita 
created  intense  excitement  a 

.-   --'-r.r.:.   v:  ::. 

v,  ---  :,::,;.;.,-  -;-  :.--:. 


and  Qneen 


ut  two 


A:  *.:.-:  :.'::^  O  -.-.-.-::•:.-.-  C.-i.:.--. 
the  duties  of  his  office,  in  1865,  he  fo 
a  bonded  debt  of  $3^41,149^0,  with 
$440,047.27.  There  had  been  expen 
poses,  the  year  before,  the  sum  of 
dosed,  but  the  obligations  of  the  Stat 
expenditures  were,  consequently,  en 
commercial  prosperity  followed;  bu 
administration,  the  bonded  debt  of 
$3,077,921.25.  There  had  been  paid  out  of  the  war  fund  during 
that  time  $1,099^55.20.  At  the  dose  of  his  second  term  the  debt 
had  been  reduced  to  $3,614,078.49,  with  a  balance  in  the  treasury 
of  $1,130,229.67. 

The  event*  of  this  and  the  subsequent  administrations  are  so 
fresh  in  the  recollection  of  all,  that  only  the  leading  features  are 
v.  r.  /:>,-v:  .;;:.:    ::^:.y:r-  ::.-;  -,::. 


g  te  war.      t 
the  uncertainty 

:„    &.:.-    •;.-;,-- 

:-::  :::.-.:.  -^  :: 
borthened  with 
the  treasory  of 
te  fin-  war  par- 
The  war  soon 
isting,  and  the 
eason  of  great 
se  of  his  first 
d  increased  to 


HDERMCT  OP  MICHIGAN.  535 

and  the  present  condition  of  the  State.  By  this  method  a  dearer 
view  of  the  whole  may  be  obtained,  at  each  inteteat  will  lie  dis 
cussed  under  its  proper  head. 

For  a  long  period  after  Michigan  was  erected  into  a  State,  the 
marked  advantages  which  it  poeBcned  were  but  little  known  and 
appreciated.  The  report  that  its  soil  was  with  difficulty  brought 
under  cultivation  sent  many  emigrants  to  the  more  wertem 
States ;  but,  during  the  last  few  years,  the  superiority  of  its  loca 
tion,  "  the  great  value  of  its  forests  of  timber,  its  immfm**  ml 
rich  mineral  resources,  its  healthful  climate,  its  productive  soil, 
beautiful  lakes  and  rivers,  the  high  character  and  flourishing  con 
dition  of  its  educational  and  charitable  institutions.,  the  prosperous 
state  of  its  finances,  the  light  burden  imposed  upon  the  people  by 
way  of  taxation,  and  the  general  prudence  and  economy  of  its 
government,  have  come  to  be  fully  understood,  and  have  all  com 
bined  to  give  the  State  the  prominence  and  high  character  to 
which  it  is  justly  entitled." 

The  vacant  lands  of  the  State  are  being  rapidly  taken  up  by  an 
industrious  and  prudent  class  of  settlers.  Railroads  traverse  the 
State  in  almost  every  direction,  and  are  being  rapidly  carried 
forward  to  the  utmost  extremities  of  both  peninsulas.  This  great 
prosperity  of  the  present,  to  which  the  State  has  attained,  grandly 
foreshadows  iis  future  importance. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


GOVERNOR  HENRY  P.  BALDWIN'S  ADMINISTRATION  —  STEADY  GROWTH 
OF  THE  STATE  —  CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT — GOVERNOR  BALD 
WIN'S  RE-ELECTION  —  THE  STATE  CAPITOL  —  THE  GREAT  AND  DE 
STRUCTIVE  FIRES  IN  MICHIGAN  —  THE  SOLDIERS'  AND  SAILORS' 
MONUMENT  —  ADMINISTRATION  OF  GOVERNOR  BAGLEY. 

HENRY  P.  BALDWIN,  on  being  called  to  the  high  office  of  Gov 
ernor  of  Michigan,  in  1868,  found  the  affairs  of  the  State  in  a 
much  more  prosperous  and  satisfactory  condition  than  they  were 
when  his  predecessor  took  his  seat.  He  found  the  nation  at  peace. 
The  integrity  of  the  Union  had  been  secured,  and  freedom  fully 
guaranteed  to  all  in  the  land.  There  was,  indeed,  cause  for  heart 
felt  gratitude  for  the  blessings  of  peace,  for  the  abundance  of  the 
harvests,  for  the  rewards  of  labor,  and  for  the  moral,  intellectual, 
and  material  advancement  of  the  people. 

Perhaps  no  period  in  the  history  of  the  State  has  been  marked 
by  a  more  steady  and  healthful  growth  in  population,  and  in  the 
wealth  of  the  people  of  Michigan,  than  that  of  Mr.  Baldwin's 
administration.  It  was  estimated  that,  in  1869,  the  taxable  valu 
ation  of  real  and  personal  property  in  the  State  amounted  to 
$400,000,000,  while,  in  1871,  it  exceeded  $630,000,000. 

There  was  nothing  remarkable  in  the  course  of  legislation  dur 
ing  the  year  1869,  but  in  the  year  following  a  question  of  consider 
able  importance  grew  out  of  a  Supreme  Court  decision,  which 
caused  the  Governor,  in  July,  to  summon  the  Legislature,  in  extra 
session.  A  series  of  laws,  enacted  at  five  successive  sessions  of  the 
Legislature,  and  approved  by  three  successive  Governors,  had,  by 
the  decision  mentioned,  been  pronounced  unconstitutional  and 
void.  These  laws  were  intended  to  enable  the  people  of  either 
counties,  townships,  cities,  or  incorporated  villages,  in  their  cor 
porate  capacity,  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  railroads.  Under 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  537 

the  authority  contained  in  these  laws,  securities  or  bonds  for  a 
very  considerable  amount  had  been  delivered,  and  were  then  held 
by  parties  who  had  purchased  them  in  good  faith. 

As  this  emergency  could  only  be  provided  for  by  an  amend 
ment  of  the  fundamental  law  of  the  State,  the  Governor  earnestly 
recommended  that  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  be  submit- 


MYRON    BUTMAN. 

MYRON  BUTMAN  was  bora  in  Milan,  Erie  county,  Ohio,  October  5,1826. 
In  1855,  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  settled  at  Saginaw  City,  where  he 
has  been  largely  engaged  in  the  lumber  trade  to  the  present  time.  He 
has  through  his  constant  exertions  secured  for  himself  quite  a  fortune 
and  built  up  a  business  of  considerable  magnitude.  Mr.  Butman  is  one 
of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Saginaw  City,  and  is  much  respected  by  a 
wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 


538  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

ted  to  the  people  at  the  general  election  to  be  held  in  November, 
1870,  such  as  would  enable  the  several  municipalities  to  ratify  all 
such  railroad  aid  bonds  as  had  been  issued  and  delivered  to  the 
people.  This  recommendation  was  duly  carried  out  by  the  Legis 
lature,  and  the  necessary  amendment  submitted  to  the  people,  but 
was  by  them  defeated. 

At  the  expiration  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  first  term,  he  took  his  seat 
for  a  second  term  of  two  years,  having  been  reflected  in  November, 
1870.  On  the  meeting  of  the  Legislature  in  January,  1871,  he 
found  the  affairs  of  the  State  in  a  condition  of  great  prosperity  in 
all  departments.  This  was  in  no  small  degree  due  to  the  wise 
policy  suggested  by  him,  and  executed  by  the  Legislature  during 
the  previous  session.  The  population  of  the  State  had  increased 
from  749,113  to  1,184,059  in  the  decade  preceding,  and  the  assessed 
valuation  of  the  real  and  personal  property  of  the  State  had 
increased  from  $172,055,808  in  1861,  to  $630,000,000  in  1871. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  previously  passed,  it  was  made  the  duty 
of  the  Legislature  to  cause  a  new  apportionment  of  the  State  into 
Congressional  districts.  From  1863  to  1870,  Michigan  had  been 
entitled  to  six  representatives  in  the  lower  branch  of  the  national 
legislature ;  but,  according  to  this  last  apportionment,  which  was 
based  upon  the  ninth  census,  the  number  was  increased  to  nine. 

During  the  last  two  years  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  administration  the 
question  of  building  of  the  new  State  Capitol  engrossed  much  of 
his  attention.  The  Legislature  received  the  full  benefit  of  his 
wise  counsel  concerning  this  important  project  in  his  second  regu 
lar  message  to  it,  which  was  convened  in  extra  session  in  March, 
1872.  Most  of  his  plans  were  acceded  to  by  the  Legislature,  and 
all  thus  adopted  have  resulted  in  the  better  advancement  of  that 
object. 

During  1870,  the  one-eighth  mill  tax  for  the  purpose  of  consti 
tuting  a  sinking  fund,  was  abolished,  ample  provision  for  the  pay 
ment  of  the  funded  debt  of  the  State  having  been  made  by  setting 
apart  some  of  the  trust  fund  receipts,  and  such  portion  of  the 
specific  taxes  as  were  not  required  for  the  payment  of  interest  on 
the  public  debt.  This  caused  a  reduction  in  the  State  tax  of 
$78,750. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


539 


The  year  1871  must  ever  be  remembered,  on  account  of  its  great 
fires  in  several  of  the  northwestern  States.  While  the  good  peo 
ple  of  Michigan  were  engaged  in  the  noble  work  of  furnishing 
relief  to  the  sufferers  by  the  great  Chicago  fire,  the  same  devour- 


HON.  THOMAS    H.   BOTTOMLEY. 

AMONG  the  representative  men  of  St.  Clair  county,  is  the  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Bottomley.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Southouram,  Yorkshire,  Eng 
land,  on  the  5th  day  of  October,  1837,  where  his  early  life  was  spent. 

Mr.  Bottomley  was  educated  at  the  Saltrauble  Academy,  Yorkshire, 
England,  receiving  a  liberal  education.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
the  year  1854,  and  took  up  his  residence  in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  New 
York.  Here  he  resided  until  1856,  when  he  emigrated  to  New  Baltimore, 
Macomb  county,  where,  by  his  great  energy  and  business  tact,  he  placed 
himself  in  comfortable  circumstances,  and  gained  the  respect  of  his 


540  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

ing  element  was  making  sad  havoc  in  our  own  State.  Thriving 
towns,  farm  and  school-houses,  churches,  live  stock,  crops,  and  thou 
sands  of  acres  of  valuable  timber  were  consumed.  Nearly  three 
thousand  families,  or  about  eighteen  thousand  persons,  were  ren 
dered  houseless,  and  deprived  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  Relief 
committees  were  organized  at  Detroit  and  Grand  Rapids,  and  in  a 
short  time  there  was  subscribed  by  individuals  and  corporations 
within  the  State,  and  paid  over  to  these  committees,  the  sum  of 
$462,106,  besides  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars'  worth 
of  clothing. 

So  prompt  and  bountiful  were  the  donations,  that,  believing  the 
people  of  Michigan  would  be  unwilling  to  tax  a  generous  public 
any  longer  than  was  necessary,  the  Governor  issued  a  proclama 
tion,  thanking  the  public  for  their  noble  charity,  and  announcing 
that  further  contributions  were  unnecessary. 

One  of  the  most  notable  events  that  happened  during  the 
administration  of  Governor  Baldwin  was  the  dedication  of  the 
Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Monument  at  Detroit,  which  event  occurred 
on  the  ninth  day  of  April,  1872.  This  monument  was  designed 
by  Randolph  Rogers,  a  native  of  Michigan,  and  one  of  the  most 
eminent  of  American  sculptors  now  living.  The  money  required 
to  erect  this  beautiful  tribute  to  the  heroes  of  the  war  was  raised 
by  subscription,  the  people  from  all  parts  of  the  State  contribut 
ing  most  liberally  to  the  object.  The  association  under  whose 
auspices  the  subscriptions  were  raised  and  the  work  done,  was 

fellow-citizens.  From  there  he  removed  to  Romeo,  where  an  extensive 
business  was  perfected  in  hoop-skirts,  etc.,  in  1865,  and  remained  until 
the  spring  of  1872,  from  which  place  he  removed  to  the  village  of  Capac, 
St.  Glair  county,  where  his  good  qualities  were  soon  ascertained  by  the 
people,  and  were  rewarded  by  his  nomination  and  election  as  represen 
tative  of  the  third  district  of  that  county,  in  the  State  legislature,  in 
November,  1872.  He  served  in  that  body  during  its  session  of  1872-3. 

Mr.  Bottomley  has  held  several  offices  of  trust  in  the  different  places 
where  he  has  resided,  which  invariably  were  administered  with  credit  to 
himself  and  fellow-citizens.  At  present  he  is  one  of  the  largest  mer 
chants  in  the  village  where  he  resides,  and  is  doing  a  profitable  business, 
not  only  in  the  mercantile  line,  but  also  as  the  contractor  of  the  Lynn 
and  Maple  valley  State  ditch. 


MICHIGAN  SOLDIERS'  AND  SAILORS'  MONUMENT. 


542  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

incorporated  in  1868,  and  it  is  due  to  the  indefatigable  exertions 
of  its  officers  and  members  that  the  work  has  been  successfully 
accomplished.  The  monument  is  about  forty-six  feet  in  height, 
and  is  surmounted  by  a  colossal  statue  of  Michigan  in  bronze,  ten 
feet  in  height.  She  is  represented  as  a  semi-civilized  Indian 
Queen,  with  a  sword  in  her  right  hand  and  a  shield  in  her  left. 
Beneath  the  plinth  on  which  she  stands  are  stars  and  wreaths. 
On  the  next  section,  in  front,  is  the  dedication  :  "  Erected  by  the 
People  of  Michigan,  in  honor  of  the  Martyrs  who  fell  and  the 
Heroes  who  fought  in  defense  of  Liberty  and  Union."  On  the 
right  are  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  and  on  the  left  are  the 
arms  of  the  State  of  Michigan.  On  the  next  section  below  are 
four  projecting  butmeuts,  on  which  will  be  seated,  when  the  monu 
ment  is  finished,  four  allegorical  figures  in  bronze,  representing 
Victory,  Union,  Emancipation  and  History.  These  figures  are  all 
that  now  remain  to  be  placed  in  position.  This  will  be  done  as 
soon  as  sufficient  funds  are  raised.  The  next  section  below  con 
tains  four  projecting  butments,  upon  which  are  standing  the 
defenders  of  Liberty  and  Union,  the  representations  of  the  army 
and  navy.  These  consist  of  four  bronze  statues,  seven  feet  high, 
soldiers  of  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry,  and  a  sailor  of  the 
navy.  On  the  panels  are  various  bassi  relievi  and  inscriptions. 
On  the  outer  pedestals  are  four  bronze  eagles. 

It  was  originally  intended  to  place  the  monument  in  the  Grand 
Circus,  and  it  was  there  that  the  ceremony  of  laying  the  corner 
stone  was  performed,  on  the  Fourth  of  July,  1867.  But,  at  the 
earnest  solicitation  of  the  sculptor,  Mr.  Rogers,  it  was  placed  on 
the  Campus  Martius.  An  immense  concourse  of  people  were 
present  upon  the  occasion  of  unveiling  the  monument.  Every 
part  of  the  State,  and  almost  every  society  in  the  State,  was  rep 
resented.  Not  less  than  one  hundred  thousand  people  were  pres 
ent.  The  address  was  delivered  by  ex-Governor  Austin  Blair. 

The  four  years  in  which  Governor  Baldwin  administered  the 
affairs  of  Michigan  were  four  years  of  prosperity.  The  functions 
of  the  various  offices  of  the  State  government  were  discharged 
with  integrity  and  ability,  and  on  the  first  of  January,  1873,  Mr. 
Baldwin  passed  the  management  of  the  executive  affairs  into  the 
hands  of  Hon.  John  J.  Bagley,  his  successor. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  543 

In  reference  to  the  administration  of  Governor  Bagley,  which 
began  in  January,  1873,  but  little  can  be  said,  for,  at  this  writing, 
less  than  half  of  his  term  of  office  has  expired.  In  his  inaugural 
message  to  the  Legislature,  in  January,  1873,  he  truly  said  that, 
"  the  growth  of  the  State  in  every  direction,  through  the  develop 
ment  of  our  great  natural  resources,  was  a  surprise  even  to  our 
selves." 

With  this  brilliant  condition  of  affairs,  Mr.  Bagley's  adminis 
tration  was  inaugurated.  The  session  of  the  Legislature  begin 
ning  in  January  was  in  all  points  successful.  Every  interest  of 
the  State  received  due  and  proper  encouragement,  while  a  spirit 
of  enlightened  economy  seemed  to  pervade  all  its  deliberations. 

The  Governor's  recommendations  were  received  with  a  due 
regard  for  the  wise  policy  which  they  contained,  and,  in  the, 
absence  of  any  radical  measures,  the  session  may  be  regarded  as 
mainly  characterized  by  diligent  labor  for  the  common  welfare  of 
the  State.  The  most  important  act  was  that  making  it  the  duty 
of  the  Governor  to  appoint  a  Constitutional  Commission,  whose 
duty  it  should  be  to  revise  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  and  pre 
sent  the  result  of  their  labors  to  the  next  regular  or  extra  session 
of  the  Legislature.  This  Commission  was  duly  appointed  by  the 
Governor,  and  it  has  already  finished  its  work.  Of  the  result  of 
its  labors  it  is  here  manifestly  improper  to  speak,  as  its  work  is 
now  under  consideration  by  the  people. 

Having  come  to  the  end  of  the  list  of  Governors,  and  noticed 
the  principal  events  in  their  several  administrations,  we  will  close 
our  work  with  a  short  notice  of  the  present  condition,  prosperity 
and  advancement  of  the  State. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


PRESENT  CONDITION  OF  MICHIGAN  RAILROADS. 

IN  THE  preceding  chapters  we  have  given,  with  some  minute 
ness,  the  history  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  Territory  up  to  the 
time  of  its  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State ;  and  then  briefly 
traced  the  leading  events  of  its  history  after  it  became  a  State, 
down  to  the  present  time.  It  is  now  proposed  to  take  up  the  lead 
ing  institutions  of  the  State  separately,  and  record  their  history 
and  development.  The  mention  of  them  thus  far  has  been  pur 
posely  avoided,  in  order  to  save  repetition.  The  mention  of  the 
resources  and  productions  of  the  State  has  also  been  avoided,  for 
the  same  reason.  The  intelligent  reader  will  not  fail  to  recognize 
the  propriety  of  this  plan,  inasmuch  as,  while  it  seems  at  first 
glance  to  necessitate  much  repetition,  it  in  reality  avoids  it. 

The  State  of  Michigan,  although  possessing  a  population  of 
nearly,  if  not  quite,  a  million  and  a  half,  and  an  amount  of  accu 
mulated  wealth  that  will  far  surpass  that  of  many  of  the  older 
States,  is,  nevertheless  in  her  infancy.  Whilst  her  growth  has 
been  marvelous,  and  the  development  of  her  resources  enormous, 
she  has,  nevertheless,  been  retarded  in  her  growth,  to  a  great 
extent,  by  several  untoward  circumstances.  Prominent  among 
these  is  the  ignorance  which  prevails,  outside  her  borders,  regard 
ing  her  great  natural  advantages.  This  ignorance  has  been 
caused,  first,  by  the  fact,  which  has  been  recorded  in  a  preceding 
chapter,  that  the  surveyor  employed  by  Congress  to  survey  lands 
set  apart  for  soldiers'  bounties,  made  a  report  to  that  body  which 
contained  a  statement  that  the  soil  of  Michigan  was  almost  com 
pletely  barren,  and  that,  on  that  account,  together  with  another 
alleged  fact,  that  it  was  extremely  unhealthy,  the  Territory  was 
utterly  unfit  for  a  human  habitation.  It  took  many  years  to  dis 
pel  the  prejudice  thus  engendered,  if,  indeed,  it  has  ever  been 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


545 


thoroughly  eradicated  from  the  public  mind.  Again,  the  State 
authorities  have  persistently  neglected  to  adopt  such  means  to 
increase  immigration  as  have  usually  been  resorted  to  by  other 
western  States.  Many  of  the  northwestern  States  have  been  built 


HON.  JOHN    BALL. 

JOHN  BALL,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  was  born  in  the  White  Moun 
tain  region  of  New  Hamphsire,  in  the  year  1794. 

His  early  years  were  passed  upon  a  farm,  and  it  was  mainly  through 
his  own  exertions  that  he  prepared  himself  for  and  obtained  a  collegiate 
education.  Pie  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1820, 
and  among  his  classmates  were  George  P.  Marsh  and  Rufus  Choate. 

After  leaving  college,  he  engaged  in  teaching  school  at  Lansinburgh, 
Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  and  there  he  also  commenced  the  study  of 
the  law. 

Shortly  afterwards',  he  shipped  from  New  York,  and  on  his  first  voy 
age  was  shipwrecked  off  the  coast  of  Georgia,  where  he  barely  escaped 
with  his  life. 

35 


546  GENERAL   HISTORY  OF   THE  STATES. 

up,  in  a  great  measure,  by  the  circulation  of  books  and  pamphlets 
showing  the  advantages  they  possess  as  a  home  for  the  tens  of 
thousands  who  annually  laud  upon  our  shores.  Michigan  has 
never  had  the  advantage  of  a  proper  representation  abroad  regard 
ing  her  resources  and  characteristics.  So  long  as  this  state  of 
affairs  continues,  Michigan  is  liable  to  be  grossly  misrepresented 
abroad,  as,  indeed,  she  has  been,  by  those  interested  in  diverting 
the  tide  of  immigration  to  other  States.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
this  will  be  remedied  in  the  future. 

The  area  of  the  territory  of  the  State  of  Michigan  is  over  56,000 
square  miles;  being  more  than  10,000  square  miles  larger  than 
either  the  State  of  New  York  or  Pennsylvania;  more  than  16,000 
square  miles  larger  than  Ohio,  and  nearly  equal  in  size  to  the 
whole  of  New  England.  When  as  thickly  populated  as  Massa- 

Passing  the  winter  at  Darien,  Georgia,  he  again  devoted  his  time  to 
teaching,  and  while  there,  he  for  the  first  time  saw  the  practical  work 
ings  of  the  institution  of  human  slavery,  and  noted  its  pernicious  effects 
upon  both  master  and  slave. 

Returning  to  New  York,  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law  with 
fair  prospects  of  success,  but  was  soon  called  away  to  the  superintend- 
ency  of  a  manufacturing  business. 

On  New  Year's  Day,  1832,  Mr.  Ball  left  Lansingburgh  for  Oregon, 
taking  a  very  different  route  there  than  travelers  do  at  the  present  day. 
He  went  from  home  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  by  sleigh.  Starting  west 
ward  from  here,  he  traveled  by  horse-power  over  the  Baltimore  and  Clio 
Railroad,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  which  was  at  that  time  the  longest 
line  of  railway  on  the  continent.  Crossing  the  Alleghanies,  he  reached 
Pittsburg,  from  whence  he  went  by  steamboat  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
which  was  then  but  a  small  village,  mostly  on  one  street. 

Joining  a  party  of  fur  traders  here,  headed  by  William  Lublette,  he 
went  up  the  Missouri  to  Lexington,  from  whence,  on  the  12th  of  May, 
1832,  the  company,  consisting  of  about  eighty  men,  with  three  hundred 
horses  and  mules,  started  for  the  interior. 

In  their  journey,  they  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountains,  through  the  cele 
brated  South  Pass,  which  was  discovered  ten  years  later  by  Colonel 
Fremont.  Crossing  the  head  waters  of  the  Colorado  river,  they  reached 
the  Columbia,  and  from  this  point,  Lublette  and  his  party  returned  to  St. 
Louis,  while  Mr.  Ball,  with  eleven  others,  traveled  on  to  Walla- Walla, 
then  a  post  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  where,  leaving  their  horses, 
they  descended  the  Columbia  to  the  Pacific. 


HISTOEY   OP   MICHIGAN.  547 

chusetts  now  is,  she  will  possess  more  than  nine  millions  of  inhab 
itants.  Surrounded  on  almost  all  sides  by  noble  inland  seas,  her 
shores  are  washed  by  fourteen  hundred  miles  of  navigable  waters. 
The  productions  of  her  soil  are  more  varied  than  that  of  any 
other  State  in  the  Union.  Most  other  States  are  practically  lim 
ited  to  some  one  or  two  staple  productions.  Michigan  can  pro 
duce,  in  the  greatest  abundance,  every  variety  of  fruit,  grain  and 
vegetable  belonging  to  her  latitude.  Her  immense  forests  of 
choicest  timber  are  of  incalculable  value,  giving  employment  to 
thousands  of  men  in  converting  it  into  lumber,  and  to  railroads 
and  ships  in  conveying  it  to  market,  thereby  creating  a  home 
demand  for  much  of  her  surplus  agricultural  products.  Her 
hard-wood  forests  are  of  immense  value  and  extent,  and  the  soil 
that  underlies  them  is  unsurpassed  in  fertility.  Her  fisheries  are 

Mr.  Ball  spent  the  winter  at  Fort  Vancouver,  where  he  taught  the  first 
public  school  opened  in  Oregon.  The  succeeding  spring  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  after  harvesting  his  crops,  took  passage  for  the  Sandwich 
Islands  in  an  English  vessel,  which  in  its  voyage  lay  for  some  days  at 
San  Francisco,  which  was  then  only  a  Jesuit  mission  station,  and  was  a 
mingled  scene  of  forest,  sand-hills  and  wild  cattle.  From  the  Sandwich 
Islands  he  sailed  in  a  whaler  around  Cape  Horn  to  Rio  Janeiro.  From 
this  city,  as  clerk  to  Lieutenant  (since  Commodore)  Farragut,  he  shipped 
on  the  United  States  schooner  Boxer,  for  Norfolk,  Virginia,  and  from 
thence  to  Baltimore,  the  point  of  his  departure. 

Mr.  Ball's  memoranda  of  his  overland  journey,  published  in  Sullivan's 
Journal,  and  afterwards  translated  into  German,  were  the  first  scientific 
accounts  of  the  geology  and  climate  of  Oregon  that  were  published. 

After  his  return,  he  engaged  for  a  year  or  two  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  Troy,  New  York,  and  in  September,  1836,  he  emigrated  to 
Michigan.  From  Detroit  he  traveled  on  horseback  to  Kalamazoo,  and 
from  there  north  to  the  Grand  River.  At  that  time  he  found  Mr.  Marsac 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Flat  River,  Mr.  Rix  Robinson  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Thorn  Apple,  a  few  hundred  settlers  at  Grand  Rapids,  a  small  settlement 
at  Grandville  and  another  at  Grand  Haven,  all  subsisting  on  game,  and 
on  provisions  brought  from  Buffalo  and  Cleveland. 

In  1837,  Mr.  Ball  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  State  legislature, 
his  district  being  composed  of  the  four  counties  of  Ottawa,  Kent,  Ionia 
and  Clinton. 

In  1842,  he  was  appointed  to  locate,  for  the  State,  the  half  million 
acres  of  land  granted  by  the  general  government  for  internal  improve- 


548  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

of  great  value,  and  even  now  there  are  not  more  than  four 
States  in  the  Union  whose  fisheries  produce  larger  returns.  A 
great  portion  of  her  territory  is  underlaid  by  vast  beds  of  mineral 
deposits.  No  State  in  the  Union  possesses  such  a  great  extent  and 
variety  of  mineral  resources  as  Michigan.  Her  copper  is  of  great 
purity,  and  immense,  incalculable  value.  Her  iron  ore  is  the 
richest  and  best  in  the  Union,  and  the  extent  of  the  deposits  of 
this  metal  is  probably  unsurpassed.  Extensive  fields  of  coal  also 
underlie  the  State — enough  to  feed  the  furnaces  of  the  world. 
Vast  beds  of  gypsum  are  to  be  found  in  various  parts  of  the  State, 
and  in  close  proximity  to  railroads  and  navigable  waters.  Numer 
ous  saline  wells  abound  in  the  Saginaw  Valley,  and  other  parts 
of  the  State,  of  unsurpassed  strength  and  inexhaustible  yield. 

These  are  some  of  the  great  natural  resources  of  Michigan,  and 
which,  when  properly  developed,  are  destined  to  make  her  one  of 
the  most  prosperous  and  populous,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
wealthy  States  in  the  Union. 

Again,  as  a  manufacturing  State  her  facilities  are  unsurpassed. 

ments,  which  task  he  faithfully  performed,  personally  inspecting  all  the 
lands  located  by  him. 

From  that  time  he  has  resided  in  Grand  Rapids,  and  has  been  engaged 
in  his  profession  and  in  real  estate  operations.  He  is  well  known 
throughout  the  western  portion  of  the  State,  and  has  been  instrumental 
in  turning  the  tide  of  emigration  in  that  direction.  He  also  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  public  education,  and  the  present  prosperous  condition  of  the 
schools  in  the  city  of  his  residence  is  largely  due  to  his  unwearied  efforts 
in  their  behalf. 

In  politics,  from  the  first,  he  has  been  a  firm  and  consistent  Democrat, 
and  has  ever  been  distinguished  for  his  advocacy  of  the  rights  of  man, 
and  for  his  loyalty  to  the  Union  ;  and  those  sentiments  were  fitly 
expressed  upon  the  memorable  occasion  when  he  presided  as  chairman 
over  the  meeting  of  citizens  called  to  express  their  indignation  at  the 
firing  upon  Fort  Sumter. 

Mr.  Ball  remained  single  until  1850,  when  he  married  Miss  Mary  T. 
Webster,  of  New  Hampshire.  He  has  a  family  of  five  children. 

He  has  spent  the  last  two  years  and  six  months  in  Europe,  traveling 
with  his  family,  and  has  just  returned  to  his  home  in  Michigan,  satisfied 
from  his  observations  of  foreign  governments,  customs  and  climates,  that 
there  is  no  better  country  and  no  more  fortunate  people  than  his  own. 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN. 


549 


She  possesses  not  only  the  raw  material  for  many  of  the  leading 
staple  manufacturing  products  of  the  country,  but  also,  in  the 
greatest  abundance,  the  necessary  supplies  for  the  sustenance  of 
those  employed  in  manufacturing  establishments.  She  not  only 


HON.    JAY   A.    HUBBELL. 

JAY  A.  HUBBELL,  of  Houghton,  Houghton  county,  Michigan,  member 
of  Congress  from  the  ninth  district,  was  born  at  Avon,  Oakland  county, 
Michigan,  September  15,  1829.  His  father,  Samuel  Hubbell,  a  native  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  came  to  that  town  about  1820,  being  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  that  portion  of  the  State,  where  he  cultivated  a  farm 
until  his  death  in  1870.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  until  the  age  of 
eighteen  years,  bore  his  part  in  the  usual  farm  labors,  and  there  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  robust  health  and  strength  he  has  since  enjoyed. 

After  two  years  of  preparatory  study  at  Romeo  and  Rochester,  made 
more  than  usually  arduous  by  a  painful  disease  of  the  eyes,  which  had 
often  interrupted  and  at  times  had  for  long  periods  suspended  application 


550  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES; 

possesses,  to  a  great  extent,  a  home  market  for  these  products,  but 
can  reach  a  vast  western  market  at  less  expense  than  can  those 
portions  of  our  country  now  supplying  such  market. 

How  the  people  of  Michigan  are  availing  themselves  of  these 
advantages,  the  following  pages  will  attempt  to  show. 

The  first  railroad  enterprise  in  the  State  was  inaugurated,  as 
we  have  already  seen,  by  the  granting  of  the  charter  of  the 
Detroit  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  by  the  Legislative  Council  of  the 
Territory,  in  1832.  By  the  terms  of  the  law,  the  State  reserved 
the  right  to  purchase  the  road  at  a  price  not  exceeding  its  cost  and 
interest  at  fourteen  per  cent.  Within  two  years  from  this  time, 
work  was  commenced  between  Detroit  and  Ypsilanti,  and,  up  to 
the  time  of  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the  Union,  in  1837, 
about  $30,000  had  been  expended.  When  this  event  occurred, 
almost  the  first  thing  the  State  Legislature  did  was  to  pass  "  an 
act  to  provide  for  the  construction  of  certain  works  of  public 
improvement,  and  for  other  purposes."  This  act  provided,  among 
other  things,  for  the  purchase  of  the  Detroit  and  St.  Joseph  Rail- 
to  books,  he  entered  the  University  at  Ann  Arbor,  in  the  sophomore  class, 
and  graduated  in  the  year  1853. 

After  reading  law  for  two  years  at  Pontiac  and  Detroit,  he  was,  in 
1855,  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  supreme  court,  at  its  session  at  Adrian. 
Immediately  after  admission,  Mr  Hubbell  went  to  Ontonagon,  in  the 
Upper  Peninsula,  where  he  formed  a  law  co-partnership  with  Hon.  A. 
H.  Hanscom. 

In  1858,  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  Ontonagon  county 
and  district  attorney  of  the  Upper  Peninsula.  From  this  time  until 
1860,  in  which  year  he  removed  to  Hougbton  county  and  opened  an 
office,  Mr.  Hubbell  was  in  active  practice  and  took  a  prominent  and 
growing  part  in  the  public  aftairsof  the  county  in  which  he  then  resided, 
and  laid  the  foundation  of  an  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  citizens 
and  business  interests  of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  into  all  parts  of  \vhich 
he  was  required  to  go  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties  as  district  attorney. 

In  1860,  he  commenced  practice  in  Iloughton  county,  the  mining  inter 
ests  of  which  were  just  beginning  to  develop. 

From  that  time  until  1871,  at  which  date  he  gave  up  active  practice,  he 
was  an  industrious  and  successful  lawyer,  being  elected  district  attorney 
for  another  term  and  prosecuting  attorney  of  Houghton  county  for  three 
terms. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  551 

road,  and,  under  its  provisions,  that  road  passed  into  the  hands  of 
the  State,  and  its  name  was  changed  to  .the  Michigan  Central. 
Laws  were  passed  authorizing  a  loan  by  the  State  of  $5,000,000 
for  internal  improvements.  Between  $2,000,000  and  $3,000,000 
were  subsequently  realized  from  this  loan,  but  the  monetary 
crash  of  1837  caused  the  corporators  who  had  taken  the  loan  to 
become  insolvent.  This  left  the  State,  for  the  time  being,  utterly 
powerless  to  proceed  with  the  great  plans  it  had  marked  out. 
These  plans,  as  we  have  before  seen,  were  to  construct  three 
through  routes  across  the  State ;  one  terminating  at  Port  Huron, 
another  at  Detroit,  and  a  third  at  Monroe.  A  canal  was  also 
projected  from  Clinton  river  to  Kalamazoo.  A  large  sum  was 
expended  on  this  enterprise,  but  it  was  finally  abandoned.  The 
northern  road  was  graded  some  distance  west  from  Port  Huron, 
and  also  abandoned.  The  State  proceeded  with  the  construction 
of  the  Central  road  until  it  reached  Kalamazoo.  In  the  mean 
time,  it  became  apparent  that  the  State  was  far  from  being  a 
shrewd  railroad  manager.  There  were  no  funds  in  the  treasury  to 

A  strong  Republican,  he  took  an  energetic  part  in  politics,  making 
political  addresses  in  several  counties  during  the  Presidential  campaign 
of  1868.  In  the  same  year,  he  was  sent  to  Washington  by  the  people  of 
the  copper  mining  district  to  aid  in  securing  a  higher  tariff  upon  copper, 
being  successful  and  returning  in  the  summer  of  that  year.  At  the  Con 
gressional  convention  of  the  sixth  district  (in  which  Houghton  county 
was  then  embraced),  Mr.  Hubbell  was  a  prominent  candidate.  On  the 
formation  of  the  ninth  district,  comprising  the  whole  Upper  Peninsula, 
embracing  nine  counties,  and  eighteen  counties  in  the  Lower  Peninsula, 
Mr.  Hubbell  was  nominated  for  Congress  by  the  Republican  convention, 
held  at  Luclington,  in  the  summer  of  1872.  In  the  excited  campaign 
which  followed,  he  addressed  political  meetings  in  nearly  every  county 
in  this  large  district,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  6,405  votes  over 
Mr.  Samuel  P.  Ely,  of  Marquette,  the  total  number  of  votes  cast  being 
17,511. 

Mr.  Hubbell  is  a  fluent,  and  has  shown  himself  both  at  the  bar  and  on 
the  stump  an  unusually  forcible  and  convincing  speaker.  Through  a 
profitable  legal  practice,  and  by  judicious  investment  of  money  in  many 
of  the  leading  and  most  prosperous  enterprises  of  his  section,  Mr.  Hub- 
bell  has  acquired  a  property  so  considerable  as  to  make  further  applica 
tion  to  business  unnecessary.  It  is  fair  to  presume  that  the  energy  and 


552  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

meet  the  Internal  Improvement  warrants,  and  they  depreciated  in 
value  to  an  enormous  extent.  The  road  as  far  as  built  was  rap 
idly  wearing  out,  the  old  strap  rail  having  been  used,  and  the 
State  had  neither  money  nor  credit  to  repair  it.  The  consequence 
was  that  the  Legislature  of  1846  concluded  to  sell  the  road.  This 
was  soon  effected,  and  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  eastern  capital 
ists,  $2,000,000  being  the  amount  paid  for  the  road  and  its  fran 
chises.  The  company  were  required  to  re-lay  the  road  with  T 
rail,  and  complete  the  road  to  Lake  Michigan  with  the  same  rail. 
They  were  also  allowed  to  change  the  terminus  to  any  point  in 
the  State  on  Lake  Michigan.  Subsequently,  they  were  allowed  to 
change  the  western  terminus  to  Chicago.  The  road  was  then 
pushed  through  with  great  rapidity,  and  is  now  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  and  best  equipped  roads  in  the  Union. 

The  Southern  road  was  also  sold  about  the  same  time.  That 
road  had  then  been  completed  from  Monroe  to  Palmyra,  at  a  cost 
of  over  $1,000,000.  The  eastern  terminus  was  afterwards  fixed 
at  Toledo.  A  perpetual  lease  of  the  Erie  and  Kalamazoo  road 
was  effected,  and  its  indebtedness  to  the  State  assumed.  The 
price  paid  to  the  State  was  $500,000,  for  the  road  and  its  appur 
tenances.  The  Tecumseh  branch,  running  from  Adrian  to  Man 
chester,  and  the  Palmyra  and  Jacksonburg  road,  subsequently 
known  as  the  Jackson  division  of  the  Southern,  were  also  included 
in  the  sale.  The  former  road  had  then  been  completed  as  far  as 
Tecumseh.  Immediate  preparations  were  then  made  to  complete 
the  road  westward.  The  work  progressed  slowly  for  some  time, 
however,  owing  to  the  want  of  means ;  but,  subsequently,  a  con 
trolling  interest  in  the  stock  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  few 

enthusiasm  which  have  always  marked  his  professional  and  political 
career,  and  his  very  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  men  and  interests 
of  his  widely  extended  district,  will  render  him  as  effective  and  useful  in 
the  more  extended  career  now  opened  before  him  as  in  his  past  life.  He 
is  the  first  member  of  Congress  ever  sent  from  the  Upper  Peninsula,  and 
will  carry  with  him  to  Washington  the  best  wishes  of  a  large  constitu 
ency,  who  have  confidently  intrusted  to  his  keeping  the  interests  of  a 
district  comprising  all  the  copper  and  iron  mines  and  a  large  portion  of 
the  lumbering  of  the  State. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


553 


wealthy  men,  and  it  was  then  pushed  rapidly  on  to  Chicago,  arriv 
ing  there  in  advance  of  the  Central.  In  1855  it  was  consolidated 
with  the  Northern  Indiana  road.  The  next  year,  the  Detroit, 
Monroe  and  Toledo  road  was  chartered.  This  road  was  at  once 


GEN.   J.    G.    PARKHURST. 

JOHN  G.  PARKHURST  was  born  at  Oneida  Castle,  New  York,  in  1824. 
His  father,  Stephen  Parkhurst,  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  who 
removed  from  that  State  and  settled  in  Oneida  county,  New  York. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  an  academical  education  prepara 
tory  to  entering  college,  and  then  entered  upon  the  study  of  the  law.  In 
1847,  he  was  admitted  to  practice,  after  having  devoted  three  years  to 
classical  studies  and  four  in  a  law  office-,  seven  years  study  then  being 
required  before  an  admission  to  the  bar.  Following  his  admission,  he 
practiced  his  profession  in  his  native  town  for  two  years. 

In  1849,  he  removed  to  Michigan  and  settled  in  Coldwater,  where  he 
formed  a  co-partnership  with  the  late  Gorge  A.  Coe,  who  was  then 


554  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

built,  and  a  perpetual  lease  granted  to  the  Southern.  The  sub 
sequent  consolidations  with  other  roads  and  the  building  of  other 
branches  have  made  the  Southern  one  of  the  finest  and  most  exten 
sive  roads  in  the  Union. 

The  old  Detroit  and  Pontiac  Railroad  was  chartered  in  1834, 
by  the  Legislative  Council,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $100,000.  A 
great  deal  of  difficulty  was  experienced  in  the  financial  manage 
ment  of  this  enterprise,  and  many  amusing  stories  are  related  illus 
trating  the  troubles  encountered.  It  was  not  till  1839  that  the 
road  was  finally  completed  as  far  as  Birmingham.  The  cars  of 
this  road  were  for  some  time  propelled  by  horse  power.  It  was 
finally  sold  under  an  execution,  in  1840.  It  was  completed  to 
Pontiac  in  1843,  and  subsequently  leased  to  Detroit  parties  for  ten 
years.  Previous  to  the  expiration  of  this  lease,  a  company,  headed 
by  the  Hon.  H.  N.  Walker,  purchased  the  road,  and  raised  enough 
money  on  its  bonds  to  re-lay  the  track. 

In  April,  1848,  a  charter  was  granted  to  the  Oakland  and 
Ottawa  Railroad  Company.  Work  was  not  commenced  on  this 
road  till  1852.  The  following  year,  Hon.  H.  N.  Walker  went  to 

lieutenant-governor  of  the  State.  The  business  of  this  firm  soon  assumed 
large  proportions  and  became  quite  lucrative.  It  continued  until  1856, 
when  Mr.  Parkhurst  succeeded  to  the  whole  and  continued  his  practice 
until  1861,  being  part  of  the  time  prosecuting  attorney  for  Branch 
county. 

In  1860,  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  famous  Charleston  convention,  and 
was  secretary  of  that  body.  After  the  final  adjournment  at  Baltimore, 
he  published  the  proceedings  of  the  convention. 

Upon  the  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  he 
addressed  an  impromptu  meeting  of  citizens  at  the  court  house  in  Cold- 
water,  and  urged  the  immediate  organization  of  troops  for  the  defense  of 
the  flag  and  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  The  citizens  of  Branch 
county  responded  to  his  appeal  to  their  patriotism  by  raising  a  company 
for  the  First  Michigan  Infantry,  and  also  the  celebrated  Coldwater 
(Loomis')  Battery. 

In  consequence  of  the  severe  illness  of  his  wife,  who  died  in  July,  he 
did  not  enter  the  army  until  September.  On  the  10th  of  September,  1861, 
he  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ninth  Mich 
igan  Infantry,  went  with  his  regiment  to  Kentucky  and  reported  to 
General  Sherman  for  duty.  Colonel  Parkhurst  served  in  Kentucky  until 


HISTOEY  OF  MICHIGAN.  555 

Europe  in  the  interests  of  this  road,  and  purchased  enough  iron  to 
lay  the  track  as  far  as  Fentonville. 

In  1855,  the  above  two  roads  were  consolidated,  under  the  name 
of  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railway.  The  bonds  of  the  com 
pany  were  then  negotiated  in  Europe,  by  Mr.  Walker,  to  the 
amount  of  $1,250,000.  A  subsequent  arrangement  was  made  with 
the  Great  Western  Railway  Company,  by  which  the  financial 
embarrassments  of  the  company  were  finally  relieved.  In  1860 
the  mortgage  was  closed,  and  the  name  of  the  road  changed  to 
the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad.  In  the  meantime,  the 
road  had  been  completed  to  Grand  Haven,  on  the  eastern  shore 
of  Lake  Michigan,  thus  completing  the  three  great  through  routes 
across  the  State  which  was  originally  contemplated  by  the  State 
government. 

The  monetary  crisis  of  1857  put  a  stop  for  several  years  to 
railroad  enterprises  in  Michigan,  and  it  was  not  till  within  the 
last  eight  years  that  operations  were  resumed.  Within  that  time 
a  large  number  of  enterprises  have  been  projected,  and  many  of 
them  carried  successfully  through.  Railroad  building  in  Michi- 

the  spring  of  18G2,  when  his  regiment  was  ordered  into  Tennessee  and 
joined  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 

At  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro,  in  July,  1862,  he  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  was  afterwards  confined  in  the  rebel  prisons  at  Knoxville,  Atlanta, 
Madisonville,  Columbia,  and  at  Libby  prison  in  Richmond.  Upon  his 
exchange  in  December  of  that  year,  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Cold- 
water,  and  was  given  a  public  reception  by  its  citizens.  In  response  to 
the  address  of  the  mayor  on  this  occasion,  he  gave  the  people  a  vivid 
account  of  his  life  in  tlie  prisons  of  the  South,  and  there  ventured  the 
prediction  that  it  would  require  a  million  of  men  and  two  years  time  to 
put  down  the  rebellion  and  restore  the  Union.  He  urged  upon  the 
people  to  give  up  their  speculations  and  to  devote  themselves  and  their 
means  to  the  salvation  of  their  country. 

Returning  to  the  army  again,  he  reported  for  duty  to  General  Rose- 
crans,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  took  command  of  his  regiment  and  par 
ticipated  in  the  six  days  battle  at  Stone  River,  which  terminated  in  a 
victory  for  the  Union  troops.  Colonel  Parkhurst  was  promoted  for  gal 
lant  conduct  during  this  battle,  received  a  distinguished  compliment  in 
the  official  report  of  General  George  H.  Thomas,  and  immediately  after 
the  battle  was  assigned  to  duty  as  provost-marshal  on  the  staff  of  Gen 
eral  Thomas. 


556  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

gan  has  been  stimulated,  to  a  certain  extent,  by  the  land  grants 
made  by  Congress  from  time  to  time,  and  some  projects  have  been 
carried  successfully  through  that  did  not  seem  to  be  warranted  by 
the  present  business  or  population  along  the  line.  But  most  of 
them  are  the  outgrowth  of  commercial  necessity,  and  consequently 
are  not  only  likely  to  be  paying  investments  of  themselves,  but 
exhibit  the  wonderful  growth  and  material  prosperity  of  the  com 
monwealth. 

Many  of  the  roads  which  have  been  built  within  the  last  eight 
or  nine  years  owe  their  existence  to  the  enterprise  of  the  men 
controlling  the  two  great  corporations  known  as  the  Michigan 
Central  and  the  Michigan  Southern  Railroads.  Of  the  former, 
the  Hon.  James  F.  Joy  has  been  the  leading  and  controlling  spirit 
for  a  number  of  years.  Under  his  management  the  Michigan 
Central  has  not  only  risen  to  the  position  of  being  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  roads  in  existence,  but  has  aided,  directly  or  indi 
rectly,  in  building  a  large  number  of  tributary  roads  in  the  State 
of  Michigan. 

The  first  road  aided  by  the  Michigan  Central  was  the  Jackson, 

After  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  he  was  made  provost-marshal-gen 
eral  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  for  gallant  services  was 
recommended  to  the  President  by  General  Thomas  for  a  brigadier-general 
ship  in  the  army. 

Following  the  battle  of  Nashville,  he  was  made  provost-marshal- 
general  of  the  military  division  of  the  Tennessee,  which  comprised  the 
States  of  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia,  and 
he  retained  this  position  until  he  left  the  service  in  November,  1865. 

General  Parkhurst  was  upon  the  staff  of  General  Thomas  for  three 
years  of  the  war,  and  was  in  all  the  battles  fought  by  that  great  military 
hero,  having  his  entire  confidence  and  continuing  an  intimate  acquaint 
ance  until  his  lamented  death  in  1870,  when  he  was  selected  by  General 
Sherman  as  one  of  the  escort  to  accompany  the  distinguished  hero's 
remains  to  Troy,  New  York,  for  burial. 

Having  married  a  lady  in  Tennessee,  for  his  second  wife,  General 
Parkhurst  contemplated  settling  in  Nashville,  and  after  leaving  the  army 
he  opened  a  law  office  there,  but  finding  the  feeling  towards  Northern 
men  not  yet  sufficiently  mollified  to  make  a  residence  there  agreeable  for 
an  ex-provost-marshal-general  of  the  Union  army,  he  returned  to  his  old 
residence  in  Coldwater,  Michigan,  in  1866,  and  was  that  year  a  candidate 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  557 

Lansing  and  Saginaw.  Lansing  was  as  far  north  as  it  was  at  first 
intended  to  go  with  this  road ;  but  upon  its  completion  to  that 
place  it  was  concluded  to  carry  it  to  Saginaw.  The  Amboy,  Lan 
sing  and  Traverse  Bay  Railroad  was  then  in  operation  between 
Lansing  and  Owosso,  and  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  pur 
chased  its  franchises,  made  it  a  part  of  their  line,  and  carried  it 
forward  to  Saginaw.  This  road  is  now  in  process  of  construction 
north  to  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw,  and  the  cars  are  running  to 
Gaylord,  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  miles  north  of  Jackson. 
When  completed,  it  will  eventually  form  an  important  link  in  the 
Northern  Pacific,  and,  in  connection  with  the  Detroit  and  Bay  City 
road,  will  form  practically  an  air  line  road  from  the  Straits  of 
Mackinaw  to  Detroit.  It  may  be  also  mentioned,  in  this  connec 
tion,  that  the  road  from  Marquette  to  Mackinaw,  being  now  ren 
dered  certain  to  be  built,  will  form  a  connection  with  this  road 
which  will  bring  Detroit  three  hundred  and  forty  miles  nearer 
Marquette  than  by  any  road  now  in  existence,  and  will  enable  the 
former  city  to  control  the  entire  trade  from  the  Upper  Peninsula 
during  the  season  when  navigation  is  closed. 

The  Grand  River  Valley  road  is  another  which  has  been  mate- 

upon  the  people's  ticket  for  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State,  and  received 
the  full  vote  of  the  ticket. 

In  October,  1866,  he  was  appointed  United  States  marshal  for  the  east 
ern  district  of  Michigan,  but  the  Republicans  in  the  United  States  Senate 
could  not  forgive  his  representing  his  district  in  the  Philadelphia  conven 
tion  held  in  the  interest  of  President  Johnson's  policy,  and  when  his 
appointment  came  up  in  1867,  they  did  not  confirm  it. 

Afterwards,  he  was  made  a  special  agent  of  the  treasury  department, 
which  position  he  held  until  1869. 

Since  that  year,  he  has  devoted  a  good  part  of  his  time  to  the  interests 
of  his  adopted  city,  and  to  him  in  a  great  measure  is  due  the  credit  of 
securing  for  Coldwater  the  Mansfield,  Coldwater  and  Lake  Michigan 
Railroad,  and  also  the  State  public  school. 

In  the  fall  of  1872,  he  was  the  candidate  of  the  Democratic  Liberal 
party  for  representative  in  Congress  from  the  Third  Congressional  Dis 
trict,  and  received  the  largest  vote  of  any  candidate  on  his  ticket  in  the 
district, 

He  is  still  residing  in  Coldwater,  and  is  devoting  his  attention  to  agri 
culture  and  to  his  other  private  business. 


558  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

rially  aided  by  the  Michigan  Central.  This  road  is  ninety-four 
miles  long,  running  north  from  Jackson  to  Grand  Rapids.  It 
there  intersects  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  road,  and  by  means  of 
that  road  connects  with  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore 
road  running  north  to  Montague. 

The  Jackson  and  Fort  Wayne  road  is  one  hundred  miles  in 
length,  its  name  indicating  the  termini.  The  Detroit,  Eel  River 
and  Illinois  road  connects  with  this,  as  does  also  the  Jackson,  Lan 
sing  and  Saginaw,  thus  giving  the  State  two  most  important  connec 
tions  with  Indiana.  Its  connection  with  the  latter  road  furnishes 
a  route  over  which  much  of  the  lumber  of  northern  Michigan 
passes  on  its  way  to  the  southern  cities. 

The  Michigan  Air  Line  was  originally  intended  as  a  short  line 
from  Chicago  to  Buffalo,  crossing  the  St.  Clair  river  at  St.  Clair, 
and  connecting  with  the  St.  Clair  branch  of  the  Canada  Southern. 
The  Michigan  Central  aided  in  building  it  between  Niles  and 
Jackson,  and  finally  absorbed  and  made  it  a  part  of  its  own  sys 
tem.  It  passes  through  a  rich  agricultural  region,  and  shortens 
the  distance  of  travel  between  Detroit  and  Chicago  about  fifteen 
miles. 

The  Detroit,  Hillsdale  and  Indiana  road  was  also  built  through 
the  aid  of  the  Michigan  Central.  It  runs  on  the  track  of  the 
Central  between  Detroit  and  Ypsilanti.  The  distance  from  the 
latter  place  to  Hillsdale  is  sixty-five  miles.  This  company  took 
the  franchises  of  the  Eel  River  road  from  Butler  to  Logansport, 
Indiana,  and  has  finished  the  road  to  the  latter  place.  This  road 
furnishes  a  direct  route  from  Detroit  to  Indianapolis,  via  the 
Indianapolis,  Peru  and  Chicago  road. 

The  Kalamazoo  and  South  Haven  road  is  forty  miles  in  length  ; 
is  owned  chiefly  by  the  Michigan  Central,  and  connects  with  the 
Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  road. 

The  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  road  runs  at  present  from 
New  Buffalo,  Berrien  county,  to  Pentwater.  Its  ultimate  destina 
tion  is  Manistee,  a  distance  of  about  two  hundred  miles.  A 
branch  twenty-four  miles  long  has  been  built  from  Holland  to 
Grand  Rapids.  This  road  was  consolidated,  in  1872,  with  the 
Muskegon  and  Big  Rapids  road,  the  latter  being  now  completed. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


559 


The  main  line  of  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  road,  north 
of  Grand  Haven,  is  operated  by  the  Michigan  Central,  and,  with 
the  Grand  River  Valley  road,  constitutes  a  direct  line  from 


SMITH    R.   WOOLLEY. 

SMITH  R.  WOOLLEY  was  born  in  1840,  in  Bridgewater,  New  York.  He 
moved  to  Michigan,  with  his  parents,  in  1847,  and  was  left  an  orphan  in 
1851.  Being  left  at  the  tender  age  of  eleven  years,  without  any  means  of 
support,  he  engaged  with  a  farmer,  with  whom  he  remained  until  1853, 
when  he  visited  Detroit  and  obtained  a  situation  in  the  banking  house  of 
W.  H.  King  &  Co.  He  remained  in  this  house  until  1854,  when  he 
accepted  a  position  in  the  banking  house  of  C.  &  A.  Ives,  where  he 


560  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Detroit  to  the  western  part  of  the  State.  These  roads  afford  an 
outlet  for  an  immense  amount  of  pine  lumber. 

The  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Lake  Michigan  is  the  result  of  a  con 
solidation  of  the  Detroit  and  Howell,  the  Howell  and  Lansing,  and 
the  Ionia  and  Lansing  roads.  The  latter  road  was  the  first  one 
built,  the  Hon.  James  F.  Joy,  of  the  Central,  furnishing  the  capi 
tal.  He  afterwards  took  up  the  Detroit  and  Howell  project  with 
a  view  of  making  a  connection  from  Detroit  to  Lake  Michigan. 
The  road  has  been  completed  as  far  as  Howard  City,  where  it 
connects  with  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  road.  This  road  now 
forms  one  of  the  great  arteries  for  the  commerce  of  the  State. 

The  Detroit  and  Bay  City  is  another  of  the  roads  aided  by  the 
Michigan  Central,  and  has  lately  been  completed.  It  is  over  one 
hundred  miles  in  length,  and  passes  through  a  rich  agricultural 
region,  forming  practically  an  air  line  from  Detroit  to  Bay  City. 

As  before  remarked,  the  Michigan  Southern,  now  known  as  the 
Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern,  has  also  done  much  in  the  way 
of  aiding  roads  which  are  tributary  to  the  main  line.  The  first  in 
order  is  the  road  now  known  as  the  Lansing  Division  of  the  Lake 
Shore  and  Michigan  Southern,  but  formerly  known  as  the  Northern 
Central  Michigan.  This  division  is  fifty-nine  miles  long,  extend 
ing  at  present  from  Jonesville  to  Lansing.  It  will  eventually  be 
extended  to  St.  Johns,  and  thence  northward. 

The  Kalamazoo  Division  was  originally  started  without  any 
clearly  defined  idea  as  to  what  place  would  eventually  constitute 
its  northern  terminus.  It  was  commenced  about  seven  years  ago. 
A  strap  road  was  already  in  existence  from  White  Pigeon  to 
Three  Rivers.  A  road  was  then  built  north  as  far  as  Schoolcraft, 

remained  for  about  ten  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
vinegar  and  the  distillation  of  alcohol  on  a  small  scale.  He  has  con 
tinued  in  the  same  business  to  the  present  time  with  remarkable  success. 
Although  a  young  man,  he  has  always  possessed  the  confidence  of  the 
people.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  board  of  trade,  and  one  of  its 
vice-presidents. 

In  1871,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  common  council  of  Detroit, 
and  has  proved  to  be  one  of  its  most  active  members. 

Mr.  Woolley  was  recently  elected  a  member  of  the  Detroit  stock 
exchange. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


561 


and  the  two  united  in  one  interest.  After  this  another  corpora 
tion  was  formed  to  build  a  road  from  Schoolcraft  to  Kalamazoo, 
and  it  was  eventually  extended  to  Grand  Rapids,  when  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  the  Michigan  Southern.  A  branch  of  this  road 


HON.  A.   N.   HART. 

ALVIN  N.  HART  was  born  in  Cornwall,  Litchfield  county,  Connecticut, 
on  the  llth  of  February,  1804. 

He  resided  with  his  parents  and  labored  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age.  He  received  his  education  partially  at  the  academy 
in  Sharon,  Connecticut,  and  partially  at  the  academy  and  college  in 
Amherst,  Massachusetts,  finishing  it  in  the  latter  institution. 

Mr.  Hart  married  Miss  Charlotte  F.  Ball,  daughter  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Ball,  of  Wendell,  Franklin  county,  Massachusetts,  July  8,  1828. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  resided  in  Utica,  New  York,  where  he 
remained  for  three  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to  the 
36 


^  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

was  also  built  from  Allegan  to  Holland.  This  was  again 
extended  north  to  Muskegon,  and  is  known  as  the  Michigan  Lake 
Shore  Road.  It  is  now  under  the  control  of  the  Continental 
Improvement  Company,  which  has  also  built  a  road  from  Alle 
gan  to  Martin's  Corners,  on  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  line. 

The  Detroit,  Monroe  and  Toledo  Division  was  built  by  subscrip 
tions  at  Detroit  and  other  points  along  the  line.  It  is  of  consider 
able  importance  to  the  former  city,  as  it  affords  a  channel  of  com 
munication  to  the  southern  cities. 

The  Jackson  Division  was  constructed  about  thirteen  years  ago, 
under  a  special  charter.  It  affords  a  direct  communication  from 
Jackson  to  Toledo,  and  has  the  effect  of  diverting  a  part  of  the 
Michigan  Central  traffic  to  the  latter  city. 

The  Adrian  and  Monroe  Division  was  originally  a  part  of  the 
main  line,  the  latter  place  being  the  eastern  terminus  of  the  road, 
as  originally  chartered.  The  line  from  Adrian  to  Toledo,  as  we 
have  before  seen,  was  acquired  by  a  perpetual  lease  from  the  old 
Erie  and  Kalamazoo  Railroad  Company. 

This  concludes  the  lines  owned  or  controlled  by  the  two  great 
corporations.  Of  the  following  roads  many  are  important,  and 
all,  as  far  as  completed,  are  well  constructed  and  equipped. 

The  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  road  is  of  great  importance, 
traversing,  as  it  does,  a  region  possessing  unbounded  natural 

Territory  of  Michigan.  It  was  a  long,  tedious  journey  in  those  days,  and 
Mr.  Hart  had  to  cut  his  way,  for  fourteen  miles,  through  the  forests, 
where  there  was  no  road  yet  built  before  he  reached  his  destination. 

He  commenced  his  pioneer  life  where  the  city  of  Lapeer  now  stands, 
being  the  first  inhabitant  of  that  settlement,  and  camping  under  a  majes 
tic  elm,r.which  is  still  standing  a  venerable  landmark,  protected  from  the 
lightning,  which  has  struck  it  several  times,  by  a  rod  placed  on  it  by  his 
son,  R.  G.  Hart,  of  Lapeer. 

Having  built  the  first  log  cabin  in  that  vicinity,  he  moved  into  it  with 
his  family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  one  child,  on  the  llth  of  Novem 
ber,  1831. 

In  the  spring  of  1832,  Mr.  Hart  was  commissioned  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Oakland  county,  to  which  was  attached,  for  judicial  purposes, 
all  the  country  north  of  that  county. 

In  the  winter  of  1835,  Mr.  Hart  was^appointed  sheriff  of  Lapeer  county, 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  563 

resources.  Its  ultimate  termini  are  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw  on 
the  north,  and  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  on  the  south.  The  track 
is  already  laid  from  Grand  Rapids  north  to  Petoskey,  sixty  miles 
from  Mackinaw,  and  the  cars  are  running  to  Traverse  City.  This 
road  has  been  greatly  assisted  by  land  grants,  amounting  in  the 
aggregate  to  1,160,382  acres. 

The  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette  road  is  another  very  important 
road,  traversing  a  region  rich  in  agricultural  resources,  lumber 
and  salt.  The  first  division  was  built,  from  Flint  to  East  Sagi- 
naw,  about  seven  years  ago.  In  1866,  the  second  division  was 
built,  extending  from  East  Saginaw  to  six  miles  beyond  Midland. 
In  1868,  a  lease  was  effected  of  the  Flint  and  Holly  road,  which 
had  been  in  operation  about  four  years ;  also,  of  the  Saginaw  and 
Bay  City  road.  The  work  on  the  main  line  has  since  steadily 
progressed,  and,  at  the  present  writing,  is  completed  as  far  as 
Reed  City,  141  miles  from  Holly.  A  contract  has  been  concluded 
for  the  unfinished  portion,  Ludington,  on  Lake  Michigan,  being 
its  western  terminus.  A  branch  has  also  been  built  from  Flint  to 
Otter  Lake,  fifteen  miles  in  length.  Another  branch  has  been 
projected  from  East  Saginaw  to  the  St.  ^Clair  river,  terminating 
either  at  Port  Huron,  or  St.  Clair. 

The  Holly,  Wayne  and  Monroe  road,  which  has  recently  been 
built,  is  now  consolidated  with  the  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette. 

and  at  the  election  in  the  fall  of  1835,  in  which  the  constitution  of  the 
new  State  was  submitted  and  adopted,  he  was  elected  a  representative  to 
the  State  legislature.  In  1842  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  Lnpeer  town 
ship,  and  held  the  office"  for  the  succeeding  seven  years.  In  1843,  Mr. 
Hart  was  elected  State  senator  from  the  Sixth  Senatorial  District,  which 
then  comprised  the  counties  of  Lapeer,  Oakland,  Genesee,  Shiawassee, 
Tuscola,  Saginaw  and  the  Upper  Peninsula.  In  1846,  he  was  elected  the 
first  judge  of  the  Lapeer  county  court,  for  a  term  of  four  years,  and  in 
1847,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  State  senate  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa 
sioned  by  the  death  of  Senator  Witherbee,  and  reflected  in  1848  for  the 
regular  term.  In  1856,  he  was  almost  unanimously  again  elected  a  justice 
of  the  peace. 

In  1860,  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Lansing  and  was  -elected  alderman 
of  the  first  ward  of  that  city  in  1863,  which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1870, 
he  was  elected  a  representative  from  Ingham  county  to  the  State  legisla- 


564  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

This  road  is  63  miles  long,  and  gives  the  Saginaw  Valley  a  direct 
connection  with  Toledo. 

The  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  road  is  the  result  of  a  consoli 
dation  of  the  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Peninsular 
roads.  This  is  destined  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  lines 
in  the  State.  The  Peninsular  has  a  Chicago  connection  on  the 
west,  and  from  the  Indiana  State  line,  running  northeast,  it  passes 
through  a  very  rich  agricultural  region.  It  is  finished  as  far  as 
Lansing,  where  it  will  eventually  be  connected  with  the  Port 
Huron  and  Lake  Michigan,  the  two  roads,  as  before  remarked, 
having  consolidated  their  interests  under  the  name  of  the  Chicago 
and  Lake  Huron  Railroad.  The  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michi 
gan  road  was  finished  from  Port  Huron  west  as  far  as  Flint  pre 
vious  to  the  consolidation.  It  was  projected  as  long  ago  as  1836, 
and  constituted  one  of  the  three  great  through  lines  then  laid  out 
by  the  State.  The  financial  embarrassments  of  1837,  however, 
stopped  the  work  after  a  few  miles  had  been  graded.  In  1841, 
another  company  was  formed,  but  nothing  was  done  further  than 
to  locate  the  line  and  obtain  the  right  of  way.  Again,  in  1856, 
another  company,  called  the  Port  Huron  and  Milwaukee  Railroad 
Company,  was  formed,  a  line  was  laid  out,  and  some  work  done. 
But  financial  embarrassments  again  put  a  stop  to  work,  the  prop 
erty  was  sold  under  an  execution,  and  the  company  dissolved. 

ture  and  materially  aided  in  securing  the  magnificent  appropriation 
which  was  made  for  the  erection  of  the  new  State  Capitol  now  in  process 
of  construction. 

Mr.  Hart  was  one  of  the  projectors  of  that  portion  of  the  Amboy, 
Lansing  and  Traverse  Bay  Railroad,  running  from  Lansing  to  Owosso, 
and  is  a  director  in  the  Detroit  and  Bay  City  Railroad. 

Mr.  Hart  has  ever  been  a  consistent  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
denomination,  being  one  of  the  founders  of  the  flourishing  church  of  that 
sect  in  Lapeer,  and  also  of  the  one  in  North  Lansing.  He  is  eminently  a 
social  man,  and  one  that  has  always  given  freely  for  the  advancement  of 
Christianity  and  social  improvement,  and,  wherever  he  is  known,  is 
universally  loved  and  respected. 

His  business  has  been  mostly  mercantile  and  real  estate,  and  he  has 
ever  showed  himself  a  good  financier,  both  in  public  and  private  enter 
prises. 


HISTORY   OP    MICHIGAN. 


565 


In  1865,  the  franchises  and  property  of  the  road  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  Port  Huron  and  Lake  Michigan  Railroad  Company. 
Of  this  company  the  Hon.  William  L.  Bancroft  was  the  leading 
spirit ;  and  it  is  due  to  his  energy  and  ability  that  it  wag  com- 


DR.    L.    YOUNGHUSBAND. 

LANCELOT  YOUNGHUSBAND,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  of  Detroit,  was  born  in 
Richmond,  in  the  North  of  England,  January  11,  1828. 

His  father,  John  Younghusband,  brought  his  family  to  this  country 
in  1841.  He  is  yet  living  in  St.  Clair  county  of  this  State.  At  an  early 
age,  Lancelot  was  sent  to  Victoria  College,  Cobourg,  and  was  a  student 
under  the  celebrated  Rev.  Dr.  Ormiston,  now  of  New  York. 

He  graduated  in  arts  at  Acadia  College,  Dominion  of  Canada.  For 
several  years  he  was  engaged  as  principal  in  high  schools.  While  thus 
employed,  he  prepared  quite  a  number  of  young  men  for  college,  who 


566  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

pleted  as  far  as  Flint,  the  present  terminus.  It  runs  through  a 
fine  agricultural  country,  and  furnishes  an  outlet  for  an  immense 
amount  of  oak  and  pine  timber,  staves,  etc.  Now  that  it  has 
been  consolidated  with  the  Peninsular,  it  will  join  that  road  at 
Lansing,  thus  forming  one  of  the  great  thoroughfares  between 
Chicago  and  the  seaboard.  It  connects  at  Port  Huron  with  the 
Grand  Trunk  and  Great  Western  Railways,  of  Canada.  At  the 
present  writing  Mr.  Bancroft  is  in  Europe,  negotiating  the  bonds 
of  the  new  company,  the  proceeds  of  which  will  enable  the  com 
pany  to  complete  the  link  between  Flint  and  Lansing,  and  push 
the  western  division  of  the  road  forward  to  Chicago.  The  line 
of  this  road  crosses  the  track  of  nearly  twenty  different  railroads 
between  Port  Huron  and  Chicago. 

The  Ohio  and  Michigan  is  the  corporate  name  of  the  road 
which  is  best  known  as  the  Mansfield,  Coldwater  and  Lake  Mich 
igan  road.  It  is  being  constructed  by  the  Continental  Improve 
ment  Company,  a  corporation  nearly  identical  in  interest  with  the 
Pennsylvania  Central  Railroad  Company.  The  line  extends  from 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  to  Allegan,  Michigan,  where  it  joins  the  road 
from  that  place  to  Muskegon,  which,  as  we  have  before  seen,  is 
controlled  by  the  same  company. 

The  Michigan  Division  of  the  Grand  Trunk  extends  from  Port 

completed  their  course  at  Antioch  College,  Ohio,  at  the  time  when  that 
institution  was  under  the  charge  of  the  distinguished  Horace  Mann;  and 
so  highly  pleased  was  he  with  the  proficiency  exhibited  by  Professor 
Younghusband's  pupils,  that  he  inquired  out  their  preceptor  and  con 
ferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four,  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  two  eminent 
physicians,  at  Port  Hope,  Ontario. 

Some  years  afterwards,  he  adopted  the  homoeopathic  system  of  medi 
cine,  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  the  oldest  homoeopathic 
medical  college  in  America,  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

For  many  years  he  was  engaged  in  a  large  and  successful  practice  at 
Mt.  Clemens,  Mich.  In  the  year  1868,  his  alma  mater  conferred  its 
highest  honors  upon  him— the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws.  In  the  fall  of 
1871,  he  was  elected  president  and  professor  of  theory  and  practice  in 
the  Detroit  Homoeopathic  College,  an  institution,  the  success  of  which 
is  already  assured. 


OF  MICHIGAN.  567 

Huron  to  Detroit,  59  miles,  and  was  built  in  1859,  by  the  Grand 
Trunk  Railway  of  Canada.  The  road  is  a  great  benefit  to  ship 
pers,  affording  a  competing  line  from  Detroit  to  the  seaboard.  It 
extends  to  Portland,  Maine,  861  miles  from  Detroit. 

The  Saginaw  Valley  and  St.  Louis  road  extends  from  East 
Saginaw  to  St.  Louis,  34  miles. 

The  Grand  Rapids  and  Newaygo  road,  36  miles  long,  is  com 
pleted  between  the  points  named.  It  is  proposed  to  extend  the 
line  northward  to  Fremont,  the  junction  of  the  Muskegon  and 
Big  Rapids,  and  the  Detroit,  Lansing  and  Lake  Michigan  roads. 

The  Marshall  and  Coldwater  road  has  been  graded  from  Elm 
Hall,  Gratiot  county,  to  Muir,  on  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
road ;  also  twenty  miles  in  Eaton  county,  and  work  is  being  done 
in  Ionia  county.  No  track  has  yet  been  laid. 

The  Canada  Southern  road  has  recently  been  completed  in 
Canada.  The  main  line  reaches  Michigan  at  Trenton.  There  is 
also  a  branch  running  from  St.  Thomas,  Ontario,  to  St.  Clair, 
Michigan.  At  Trenton  the  main  line  will  have  three  branches : 
one  to  Chicago,  passing  through  Flat  Rock,  Blissfield  and  Morenci. 
This  branch  is  now  completed  as  far  as  Fayette.  Another  branch, 
now  completed,  extends  to  Toledo.  The  other  extends  to  Detroit, 
and  has  recently  been  opened  for  traffic. 

For  moral,  conservative  and  generally  wholesome  influence  over  stu 
dents,  no  educational  institution  in  the  land  has  in  its  president  one  who 
excels  him. 

On  removing  to  Detroit,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  E.  R  Ellis, 
a  prominent  physician  of  that  city,  and  professor  of  surgery  in  the  col 
lege.  Here  Dr.  Younghusband  and  his  partner  have  built  up  an  exten 
sive  practice.  Scarcely  a  day  passes  that  patients  from  distant  parts  of 
this  State,  and  even  Canada,  do  not  call  upon  them. 

Besides  general  practice,  they  give^  special  attention  to  surgery,  and  the 
treatment  of  chronic  and  difficult  cases  of  disease,  particularly  of  the 
lungs  and  heart. 

In  the  management  of  and  as  a  teacher  in  the  college,  Professor  Young- 
husband  has  more  than  fulfilled  the  expectations  of  his  friends,  and  his 
conceded  abilities,  both  natural  and  acquired,  well  entitle  him  to  the 
position  which  he  has  gained  as  one  of  the  foremost  physicians  of  this 
State,  if  not  of  the  West. 


568  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   STATES. 

At  St.  Clair,  the  Canada  Southern  connects  with  the  Michigan, 
Midland  and  Canada  road,  which  extends  from  St.  Clair  to  Ridge- 
way,  on  the  Grand  Trunk  road,  a  distance  of  15  miles.  The 
Michigan  Air  Line  extends  from  the  latter  place  to  Romeo. 
The  franchises  of  the  Michigan  Air  Line  road  have  been  disposed 
of  to  parties  in  Pontiac,  who  propose  to  extend  it  as  far  as  the  lat 
ter  place. 

A  road  has  been  projected  from  Rockford  to  Greenville  by  the 
Continental  Improvement  Company.  Some  grading  has  already 
been  done. 

The  Paw  Paw  and  Lawton  road  extends  from  Paw  Paw,  Van 
Buren  county,  to  Lawton,  on  the  Michigan  Central,  a  distance  of 
four  miles. 

The  Toledo,  Ann  Arbor  and  Northern  road  has  been  graded 
between  Toledo  and  Ann  Arbor. 

The  Owosso  and  Northern  road  has  for  its  proposed  northern 
terminus,  Frankfort,  on  Lake  Michigan.  Forty  miles  of  grading 
have  already  been  done. 

An  air  line  from  Detroit  to  Adrian  is  in  contemplation,  and 
the  grading  done  between  the  latter  place  and  Tecumseh. 

Several  other  meritorious  projects  are  agitating  the  Lower  Pen 
insula,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  a  road  from  Wenona  to 
Big  Rapids;  one  from  Elkhart,  Indiana,  to  Benton  Harbor, 
Michigan ;  one  from  Lapeer  to  Port  Austin ;  one  from  Utica  to 
Almont ;  one  from  the  main  line  of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and 
Saginaw  road  to  Alpena  ;  and  one  from  East  Saginaw  to  Port 
Huron  or  St.  Clair.  The  grading  on  the  latter  road  has  been 
done  from  East  Saginaw  to  Vassar. 

In  the  Upper  Peninsula,  the  Marquette,  Hough  ton  and  Onto- 
nagon  road  stands  first  in  interest  and  importance.  This  com 
pany  was  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  Marquette  and 
Ontouagon  and  the  Houghton  and  Ontonagon  railroads.  The 
road  is  in  operation  from  Marquette  to  L'Anse,  and  passes 
through  the  richest  mineral  region  on  earth.  It  has  magnificent 
harbor  facilities  at  each  terminus,  and  in  proportion  to  the  invest 
ment  it  is  doing  a  larger  business  than  any  other  railroad  in  the 
world.  At  least  a  million  and  a  half  tons  of  iron  alone  passed 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


569 


over  this  road  during  the  past  year.  The  road  will  be  eventually 
extended  westward  as  far  as  the  Montreal  river,  where  it  is 
expected  to  connect  with  the  Northern  Pacific,  thus  forming  an 
important  link  between  Duluth  and  the  Lower  Peninsula. 


HON.  E.   S.  EGGLESTON. 

EBENEZER  S.  EGGLESTON  was  born  in  the  village  of  Batavia,  Genesee 
county,  New  York,  May  12,  1825. 

He  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1837,  settling  in  the  town  of  Litchfield, 
Hillsdale  county. 

Mr.  Eggleston  received  a  thorough  common  school  education,  and 
afterwards  studied  law  with  Lieutenant-Governor  Gordon.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852. 

In  1851,  he  removed  to  Grand  Rapids,  where,  after  being  admitted,  he 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  soon  won  a  high  reputa 
tion  for  his  legal  ability.  He  still  continues  the  practice  of  the  law  at 


570  GENERAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  STATES. 

The  gap  between  Escanaba  and  the  Wisconsin  State  line,  on 
the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  road,  has  recently  been  built, 
thus  forming  a  direct  connection  between  Marquette  and  Chicago. 

The  Marquette,  Mackinaw  and  Sault  Ste.  Marie  road  has 
recently  been  chartered.  This  road  is  to  extend  from  Marquette 
to  Sault  Ste.  Marie,  with  a  branch  to  Mackinaw.  The  branch 
will  give  a  direct  railroad  connection  between  the  two  peninsulas, 
which  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  people  of  both, 
and  bring  the  winter  trade  from  the  Upper  Peninsula  through 
Mackinaw  to  the  Lower  Peninsula,  and  shorten  the  distance  to  be 
traveled  from  Detroit  to  Marquette  340  miles. 

The  aggregate  length  of  the  railroads  of  Michigan,  as  stated  by 
Governor  Bagley  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature  in  January, 
1873,  is  about  3,200  miles. 

The  question  of  bridging  the  river  at  Detroit  is  being  vigorously 
discussed  at  the  present  writing,  and  it  is  probable  that  at  no 
distant  day  this  great  desideratum  of  western  shippers,  agricultur 
ists  and  railroad  men  will  be  accomplished.  The  scheme  is,  how 
ever,  violently  opposed  by  vessel  owners  and  others,  interested  in 
the  commerce  of  the  lakes.  A  board  of  engineers  has  been 
appointed  to  report  as  to  its  propriety  and  feasibility. 

No  better  idea  of  the  immense  interests  at  stake,  of  the  com 
merce  of  the  lakes  and  of  the  business  of  Michigan  railroads,  can 
be  obtained  than  by  a  mere  statement  of  the  leading  argument 
used  on  each  side  of  this  question.  The  vessel  owners  show  that 
at  least  $50,000,000  are  invested  in  vessels  which  pass  through  the 
Detroit  river ;  and  that  the  passage  of  these  vessels  average  one 
every  six  minutes  during  navigation.  On  the  other  hand,  those  in 

that  city,  and  ranks  among  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  western  portion 
of  the  State. 

He  was  appointed  Consul  to  Cadiz,  Spain,  by  President  Lincoln,  in 
1861,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  four  years. 

Mr.  Eggleston  was  chosen  representative  to  the  State  legislature  from 
the  first  district  of  Grand  Rapids,  in  the  fall  of  1872,  and  served  in  the 
house  during  the  session  of  1872-73.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
judiciary  committee  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  private  corpora 
tions  of  that  body. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  571 

favor  of  a  bridge  show  that  at  least  $150,000,000  of  railway 
property  are  interested  in  crossing  the  Detroit  river,  to  say  noth 
ing  of  the  immense  mercantile  and  agricultural  interests  of  the 
State,  and,  indeed,  of  the  whole  northwest,  that  are  interested  in 
securing  quick  and  cheap  transportation  to  and  from  the  sea 
board.  Vessel  owners  assert  that  their  interests  would  be 
materially  affected,  and  navigation  obstructed  during  the  summer 
months,  by  a  bridge  across  the  river.  Railroad  men,  merchants 
and  agriculturists  assert  that  the  blockade  of  freight  occasioned 
by  ice  during  the  winter  months,  occasions  the  loss  of  many  mil 
lions  of  dollars  annually. 

How  the  question  will  be  settled  time  only  can  determine.  It 
is  mentioned  here  merely  to  give  a  faint  idea  of  the  immense 
interests  involved — the  untold  wealth  and  possibilities  of  the 
commerce  which  annually  passes  through  and  along  the  shores  of 
the  State  of  Michigan. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

MINERAL  AND  FOREST  WEALTH  OF  MICHIGAN — IRON — COPPER — SALT — 
GYPSUM — COAL — OTHER  MINERALS — LUMBER. 

IRON. 

THE  existence  of  iron  in  the  Upper  Peninsula  has  long  been 
known.  The  Indians,  at  an  early  day,  gave  information  to  the 
white  traders  which  led  to  investigations ;  but  it  was  not  until  a 
comparatively  recent  period  that  operations  on  an  extended  scale 
commenced.  The  first  company  organized  for  the  purpose  was 
called  the  Jackson  Iron  Company.  This  company  was  organized 
in  1845.  It  is  still  in  existence,  and  its  mine  has  yielded  the 
largest  amount  of  iron  of  any  in  the  district,  save  one — the  Lake 
Superior  mine  only  producing  a  larger  amount. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Jackson  Iron  Company,  one  of 
the  corporators  visited  the  Lake  Superior  country,  and,  guided  by 
the  Indians,  discovered  and  located  what  are  now  known  as  the 
Jackson  and  Cleveland  mines.  On  his  return  home  he  brought  a 
specimen  of  the  ore,  a  portion  of  which  he  sent  to  Pittsburg,  and 
another  portion  to  Coldwater,  in  this  State,  for  the  purpose  of 
having  its  quality  tested.  At  the  former  place  it  was  pronounced 
utterly  worthless,  but  at  the  latter  a  more  favorable  report  was 
made.  In  1846  the  first  opening  was  made  in  the  Jackson  mine. 
The  year  following  a  forge  was  put  in  operation,  in  which  the  first 
ore  taken  out  of  the  Jackson  mine  was  manufactured  into  blooms. 
Hon.  E.  B.  Ward  purchased  the  first  blooms  manufactured  by 
this  company,  and  used  the  iron  in  constructing  the  walking-beam 
of  the  steamer  Ocean.  Other  forges  followed  soon  after,  and 
in  1853  three  or  four  tons  of  iron  were  shipped  to  the  World's 
Fair,  at  New  York.  Owing  to  the  difficulties  of  shipping,  there 
was  little  done  until  1856,  when  regular  shipments  commenced. 

The  Cleveland  mine  was  opened  about  the  same  time.     The 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


573 


Marquette  mine  was  next  opened,  and  made  its  first  shipment  in 
1868.  Other  mines  were  opened  from  time  to  time,  as  the  atten 
tion  of  capitalists  were  attracted  to  the  region. 

Notwithstanding   the   unfavorable   report  made  by  the  Pitts- 


PROF.   DAVID   PARSONS. 

DAVID  PARSONS  was  born  in  the  town  of  New  Haven,  Oswego  county, 
New  York,  in  the  year  1820. 

When  not  quite  fifteen  years  of  age,  he,  without  a  cent  in  his  pocket 
and  but  poorly  clad,  started  for  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  where  three 
of  his  brothers  had  preceded  him.  After  traveling  on  foot  and  by  water 
several  hundred  miles,  he  found  two  of  his  brothers  at  Ann  Arbor. 
They  being  unable  to  assist  him,  he  started  for  Spring  Arbor,  where  his 
other  brother  was  located.  He  found  him  in  no  better  circumstances 


574  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

burg  parties  who  tested  the  ore  first  shipped  ,to  them,  Lake 
Superior  iron  is  now  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  in  the  world. 
Its  strength  per  square  inch,  in  pounds,  has  been  found  to  be  no 
less  than  89,582.  The  nearest  approach  to  this  is  in  the  best 
Russia  iron,  the  strength  of  which  is  76,069  pounds ;  whilst  the 
best  Swedish  iron  shows  a  strength  of  only  58,184.  The  common 
English  and  American  iron  bears  a  test  of  about  30,000  pounds. 

Lake  Superior  iron  has  been  practically  tested  in  every  possible 
use  to  which  iron  can  be  put,  and  the  universal  testimony  is  that 
it  is  the  best  in  existence,  both  as  regards  strength  and  ease  of 
manipulation. 

The  mines  thus  far  developed  are  mainly  in  the  county  of 
Marquette.  They  are  generally  found  in  hills  which  are  from 
400  to  600  feet  in  height.  These  hills  are  in  a  range  of  about 
six  miles  wide,  and  one  hundred  miles  in  length.  They  extend 
from  Lake  Fairbanks  to  Keweenaw  Bay.  In  Menominee  county 
there  is  another  range  of  hills,  equally  rich  in  this  ore,  but  they 
are  at  present  undeveloped.  This  range  crops  out  at  Bayfield, 
and  at  several  other  points  large  deposits  of  magnetic  ores  are 
found,  which  prove  to  be  almost  pure  native  iron.  Five  different 
varieties  of  ores  have  been  found.  The  most  valuable  is  the 

than  the  others,  and  after  traveling  about  the  country  some  thirty  miles, 
he  finally  succeeded  in  getting  employment  on  a  farm. 

Returning  to  Ann  Arbor  in  the  winter,  he  taught  the  school  in  Lower 
Ann  Arbor  that  season. 

After  his  school  closed,  he  again  engaged  in  farming,  about  two  miles 
south  of  where  the  city  of  Marshall  now  stands,  and  while  thus  employed, 
passed  through  many  exciting  and  dangerous  scenes  with  wolves  and 
other  wild  animals,  and  endured  all  the  severe  hardships  consequent 
upon  a  pioneer's  life  in  a  wild  country. 

Disliking  farming,  and  having  early  resolved  to  obtain  an  education 
and  become  a  professional  teacher,  Mr.  Parsons  devoted  all  his  spare 
moments  with  his  books,  even  carrying  them  to  the  field  with  him  that 
he  might  utilize  every  possible  minute  in  which  he  was  not  otherwise 
employed,  in  acquiring  information  from  them. 

By  his  own  unwearied  exertions  at  teaching  school  winters  and  work 
ing  on  a  farm  summers,  and  through  the  aid  of  his  brother  John,  he 
succeeded  in  receiving  an  academic  education  and  preparing  himself  for 
his  profession.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  was  called  to  take  charge  of 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  575 

specular  hematite,  which  yields  about  60  to  75  per  cent  of  metal 
lic  iron.  The  second  in  importance  is  the  soft  hematite,  which 
yields  about  50  per  cent  in  the  furnace,  and  has  the  advantage  of 
being  more  easily  reduced  than  any  other  ore  of  the  district. 
The  magnetic  ore  is  found  west  of  the  other  ores  of  the  district. 
The  Michigan,  Washington,  Edwards  and  Champion  mines  pro 
duce  this  ore  almost  exclusively.  The  flag  ore  is  slaty  or  shistose 
silicious  hematite,  containing  a  less  per  centage  of  metallic  iron 
than  the  ores  above  named,  and  is  rather  more  difficult  to  reduce. 
It  is  often  magnetic  and  sometimes  banded  with  dull  red  or  white 
quartz.  The  iron  is  cold  short,  which  is  said  to  be  one  of  the 
best  qualities  of  this  ore.  The  other  ores  of  the  district  are  red 
short.  This  ore  is  believed  to  be  the  most  abundant  in  the  dis 
trict.  At  several  points  in  the  district,  and  accompanying  the 
flag  ore,  is  found  a  silicious  iron  ore,  which  contains  a  variable 
amount  of  oxide  of  manganese.  This  is  of  great  value  as  a 
mixture. 

There  are  forty  mines  now  in  the  district,  which  have  produced 
since  their  opening,  up  to  and  including  the  year  1872,  an  aver 
age  of  over  139,184  tons.  The  aggregate  yield,  in  tons,  from 
1856  to  1872  inclusive,  is  5,567,373.  The  value  of  this  yield  has 

one  of  the  public  schools  at  Salina,  New  York.  This  school  was  one  of 
the  most  unruly  in  existence,  and  when  Mr.  Parsons  informed  the  trus 
tees  that  he  was  going  to  teach  it  without  the  use  of  a  rod,  they  were 
loth  to  give  him  the  situation,  but  finally  concluded  to  allow  him  a 
week's  trial.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time,  he  had  the  pupils  entirely 
under  his  control,  and  so  complete  was  his  success  that  he  remained  in 
charge  of  the  school  for  three  years. 

Mr.  Parsons  was  one  of  the  early  advocates  of  moral  suasion  in  the 
public  schools,  his  motto  being  ' 4  a  school  well  taught  is  a  school  well 
governed." 

In  1844,  the  first  State  teachers'  convention  held  in  the  State  was  called 
to  meet  in  Syracuse,  New  York,  and  a  State  association  organized.  At 
that  convention,  Mr.  Parsons  had  gained  such  a  prominence  among  the 
teachers  of  the  State  as  to  be  elected  the  secretary. 

Shortly  afterwards,  he  made  a  tour  of  New  York  State,  conducting 
teachers'  institutes,  and  doing  much  toward  driving  corporal  punishment 
from  the  public  schools. 

When  but  twenty-one  years  of  age,  Mr.  Parsons  published  a  work  on 


576  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

been  $44,373,833.  There  are  fifteen  furnaces  in  the  district, 
which  have  produced  since  their  establishment,  an  average  of 
over  23,858  tons.  Their  aggregate  production  since  1858,  when 
the  first  was  started,  up  to  and  including  1872,  is  357,880  tons. 

Michigan  ranks  as  the  second  State  in  the  union  in  the  produc 
tion  of  iron,  Pennsylvania  only  leading  her.  The  magnitude  of 
her  iron  interest  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  in  1872  she  furnished 
about  one-thirteenth  of  the  entire  product  of  the  world.  But, 
great  as  it  is,  it  is  yet  in  its  infancy.  Mountains  of  solid  ore, 
covering  many  square  miles,  exist  within  her  limits ;  and,  thous 
ands  of  years  hence,  when  this  continent  shall  contain  a  popula 
tion  greater  than  now  exists  in  the  world,  the  iron  mines  of 
Michigan  will  still  continue  to  pour  out  their  rich  treasures  in 
inexhaustible  abundance. 

COPPER. 

The  principal  copper  mines  in  Michigan,  are  in  the  counties  of 
Keweenaw,  Houghton  and  Ontonagon.  The  existence  of  copper 
in  the  Upper  Peninsula  was  known  to  the  Indians  long  before  the 
white  man  had  penetrated  the  depths  of  our  forests ;  and  the 
early  white  settlers  were  informed  of  its  existence  many  years 

"  Analysis  of  Words,"  which  he  had  written  when  he  was  but  eighteen. 
Shortly  afterwards,  he  published  a  chart,  entitled  "Parsons'  Philosophi 
cal  and  Practical  Orthography."  This  chart,  after  passing  through 
several  editions,  was  placed  upon  a  more  practical  basis  by  being  accom 
panied  by  a  book  on  "Orthography,  the  Elements  of  Elocution  and 
Analysis,  and  the  introduction  of  the  '  Union  System '  of  Teaching, 
Reading,"  etc.,  by  the  same  author.  Mr.  Parsons  has  published  several 
other  educational  works. 

In  1855,  in  connection  with  Professor  Alfred  Holbrook,  he  started  the 
project  which  has  resulted  in  the  present  magnificent  and  efficient 
national  normal  school,  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  with  Professor  Holbrook  at 
its  head. 

Mr.  Parsons  is  widely  known  as  an  organizer.  He  organized  the 
Wellsville  union  school,  the  Jefferson  academy,  the  Belle  Fontaine  union 
schools,  and  Tafton  collegiate  seminary. 

For  a  number  of  years  past,  Mr.  Parsons  has  been  engaged  in  the  life 
insurance  business,  and  is  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  most  success 
ful  men  in  that  occupation  in  the  State. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


577 


ago.  But  no  active  measures  were  taken  to  ascertain  the  extent 
of  the  deposits,  or  to  reap  any  benefit  from  their  rich  stores,  until 
the  year  1845.  At  'that  time  the  fever  of  copper  speculation 
broke  out,  and  had  a  most  disastrous  run  for  several  years. 


GEN.  A.  T.   M'REYNOLDS. 

ANDREW  T.  MCREYNOLDS  was  born  in  Dungannon,  Tyrone  county, 
Ireland,  on  Christmas  day,  1808. 

He  emigrated  to  America  in  August,  1830,  in  his  twenty-second  year, 
and  was  a  resident  -of  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  for  some  time  before 
coining  to  Michigan. 

While  there,  he  was  one  of  the  original  members  and  first  ensign,  of 
the  Duquesne  Grays  of  that  city,  organized  in  1831,  and  which  was  the 
first  independent  volunteer  company  formed  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 
37 


578  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Numerous  companies  were  organized,  and  speculations  in  cop 
per  stocks  were  indulged  in  to  an  enormous  extent.  The  Cliff 
mine  was  the  first  one  developed.  Three  years  were  spent  in 
developing  it,  with  very  discouraging  results ;  but  at  the  end  of 
that  time,  and  just  at  the  moment  of  success,  the  mine  changed 
hands.  In  the  hands  of  the  new  owners  it  proved  to  be  exceed 
ingly  rich  in  both  copper  and  silver.  This  mine  is  situated  in 
Keweenaw  county,  just  back  of  Eagle  Harbor.  In  1848  the 
Minnesota  mine  was  discovered.  Several  years  were  spent  in  this 
mine  with  very  little  show  of  success.  In  1855  the  Pcwabic  mine 
was  opened.  The  first  four  years  the  sum  of  $230,813  was 
expended,  and  $153,168  worth  of  copper  was  produced.  Other 
mines  were  worked  with  similar  results,  some  even  more  disas 
trously.  Several  causes  conspired  to  produce  these  results.  The 
St.  Mary's  canal  was  not  yet  built,  and  all  supplies  had  to  be 
packed  around  the  falls.  They  were  then  carried  in  boats  along 
the  shores  for  hundreds  of  miles.  When  the  mining  region  was 
reached  everything  had  to  be  packed  on  the  backs  of  beasts  or  of 
men  to  the  mines.  Again,  the  want  of  practical  experience  in 
those  who  worked  the  mines  led  to  much  loss,  great  embarrass- 

While  in  Pittsburg,  he  volunteered  to  aid  under  General  Scott,  in  put 
ting  down  nullification  in  South  Carolina. 

Coming  to  Detroit  in  1833,  he  has  been  a  resident  of  Michigan  for 
forty  years. 

In  1834,  he  was  appointed  major  on  the  staff  of  Major-General  Williams, 
who  was  in  command  of  all  the  militia  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan. 

In  the  winter  of  1834-35,  he  was  one  of  four  that  organized  the  Brady 
Guards  of  Detroit,  the  other  three  being  Major  Isaac  Rowland,  Marshal 
Bacon  and  John  Chester.  The  Brady  Guards  was  the  first  independent 
military  organization  west  of  Lake  Erie  subsequent  to  the  war  of  1812. 

He  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  in  Detroit  in  1840,  and  soon 
rose  to  a  prominence  in  the  profession. 

He  organized  the  Montgomery  Guards  of  Detroit,  and  was  their  first 
captain;  and  he  also  served  eleven  years  as  lieutenant-colonel  and  colonel 
of  the  first  regiment  of  Michigan  militia. 

Having,  in  1847,  received  a  captain's  commission  in  the  dragoon  service 
of  the  United  States  army,  he  resigned  the  seat  he  was  then  occupying  in 
the  Michigan  State  Senate,  and  served  under  General  Scott  during  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  579 

ments,  and  final  abandonment  of  enterprises  that  with  practical 
skill  and  good  judgment  might  have  been  successfully  carried  out. 
The  want  of  scientific  exploration  and  examination  of  these 
regions  was  also  a  serious  drawback.  With  the  completion  of  the 
canal  all  this  was  changed,  and  copper  mining  received  a  new 
impetus.  Goods  could  be  transported  more  cheaply,  and  the  pro 
duct  of  the  mines  could  be  readily  transported  to  market.  Scien 
tific  explorations  followed,  and  capital  and  skilled  labor  were 
brought  into  requisition.  The  finances  were  managed  with  more 
care,  and  the  mines  were  worked  with  greater  judgment.  The 
result  has  been  a  rich  reward  for  the  enterprise  and  capital 
invested,  and  the  production  of  copper  has  come  to  be  one  of  the 
great  industries  of  the  Northwest. 

The  ore  mined  is  of  the  richest  quality,  yielding  about  80  per 
cent  of  ingot  copper.  Many  times  vast  masses  of  pure  native 
copper,  weighing  many  tons,  have  been  taken  out.  Smelting 
works  have  been  established  at  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Pittsburg  and 
Portage  Lake.  Twenty-five  mines  are  now  in  successful  opera 
tion,  giving  employment  to  over  seven  thousand  men.  The  num 
ber  of  tons  produced  from  1845  to  1872,  inclusive,  is  175,756. 

war  with  Mexico.  He  was  attached  to  the  headquarters;  his  troops,  in 
conjunction  with  those  under  General  Philip  Kearney,  acting  as  the  body 
guard  of  the  commanding  general  during  the  campaign  that  terminated 
in  planting  the  American  banner  in  triumph  on  the  halls  of  the  Monte- 
zumas. 

The  following  extract,  which  gives  a  vivid  description  of  General 
McReynolds' bravery,  appears  in  the  "Life  of  General  Philip  Kearney," 
which  was  written  by  J.  Watts  De  Peyster: 

"  The  charge  of  dragoons  refered  to  was  made  by  two  troops — one  led 
by  Captain  Kearney,  the  other  by  Captain  McReynolds.  The  name  of 
Kearney  sounds  rather  Irish,  but  of  the  birth  or  descent  of  that  gallant 
soldier  we  are  unable  to  speak.  We  are  happy,  however,  to  be  able  to 
claim  Captain  McReynolds  as  Irish  born,  and  no  one  will  believe  him  to 
be  a  whit  the  less  a  true  American  on  that  account.  Captain  McReynolds 
is  a  native  of  Dungannon,  in  the  county  of  Tyrone.  The  Detroit  Free 
Press,  in  quoting  from  the  New  Orleans  Picayune  the  passage  which  we 
subjoin,  speaks  thus:  '  It  was  in  this  charge  that  Captain  McReynolds,  of 
this  city,  received  his  serious  wound,  his  troop — all  Michigan  boys — 


580  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

The  value  of  the  copper  produced  in  that  time  is  estimated  at 
$76,560,720. 

The  richness  of  the  copper  mines  of  the  Upper  Peninsula  is 
not  surpassed  in  the  world.  It  is  already  one  of  most  important 
industries  in  the  Northwest,  and  further  scientific  research  will 
undoubtedly  lead  to  still  more  important  results,  and  materially 
increase  the  wealth  and  commerce  of  the  State. 

SALT. 

The  first  attempt  to  develop  the  saline  resources  of  the  State 
was  made  by  the  late  Dr.  Douglas  Houghton,  then  State  Geologist, 
under  the  authority  of  the  Legislature.  An  appropriation  of 
$3,000  was  made  for  this  purpose,  and  operations  were  commenced 
in  June,  1838.  A  spot  was  selected  on  the  Tittabawassee  river, 
ten  miles  above  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Midland.  Two 
thousand  dollars  of  this  appropriation  were  expended  before  the 
depth  of  100  feet  was  reached,  and  those  engaged  in  the  prosecu 
tion  of  the  work  began  to  look  upon  the  enterprise  as  hopeless. 
Work  was  continued,  however,  until  a  depth  of  140  feet  was 
reached,  when  it  was  abandoned.  Dr.  Houghton  never  lost  faith 
in  the  ultimate  success  of  the  enterprise,  having  the  fullest  confi- 

together  with  Kearney's,  participating.  It  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the 
boldest  and  most  desperate  charges  on  record.'  The  commanding  gen 
eral  of  the  division  thus  speaks  of  the  charge  and  Captain  McReynolds 
and  his  bold  dragoons :  '  Capain  McReynolds'  Third  Dragoons  nobly  sus 
tained  the  daring  movements  of  their  squadron  commander.'  Both  of 
these  fine  companies  sustained  severe  losses  in  their  rank  and  file.  We 
are  informed  that  the  enemy  numbered,  by  their  own  report,  two  thou 
sand  infantry  and  one  thousand  cavalry,  while  our  dragoons  did  not 
exceed  one  hundred.  This  small  force  drove  the  Mexicans  upwards  of 
two  miles,  and  ceased  not  until  they  were  within  the  battery  that  covered 
the  gate  of  the  city.  In  this  charge,  the  dragoons  cut  down  more  than 
their  entire  number  of  the  enemy.  When  we  consider  the  extraordinary 
disparity  in  point  of  numbers,  and  the  raking  position  of  the  enemy's 
battery,  into  the  very  mouth  of  which  our  brave  dragoons  fearlessly 
threw  themselves,  we  think  we  may  safely  say  it  has  no  parallel  in 
modern  warfare." — Dublin  Freeman's  Journal. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  closed,  he  returned  to  Detroit  and  resumed 
the  practice  of  his  profession. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  581 

dence  in  the  existence  of  rich  and  extensive  saline  deposits  under 
lying  a  large  area  of  the  surface  of  Michigan.  After  this  failure 
the  matter  rested  for  a  time.  Occasionally  wells  were  sunk  in 
various  parts  of  the  State,  but  with  poor  success,  until  1860,  when 
the  first  paying  well  was  sunk  in  the  Saginaw  valley.  Before  the 
close  of  that  year  4,000  barrels  were  shipped.  Since  that  time 
numerous  paying  wells  have  been  sunk,  the  manufacturing  pro 
cess  has  been  improved  so  as  to  materially  reduce  the  cost  of 
production,  and  to-day  salt  is  one  of  the  staple  productions  of  the 
State.  The  principal  salt  region,  as  far  as  developed,  is  in  the 
Saginaw  valley.  The  wells  are  usually  sunk  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  saw  mills,  in  order  to  be  able  to  utilize  the  exhaust  steam  or 
the  refuse  of  the  mills,  in  the  manufacture  of  the  salt.  This 
reduces  the  expense  of  manufacture  to  a  minimum,  and  produces 
large  returns  in  proportion  to  the  capital  invested  and  the  labor 
involved. 

A  little  over  twelve  years  have  elapsed  since  the  first  shipments 
were  made  from  this  State ;  but  in  that  time  over  six  millions  of 
barrels  have  been  manufactured. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1872  there  were  sixty  salt  manufactur- 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  he  tendered  his  services  to  the 
government,  and  having  received  the  appointment  of  colonel  from  Presi 
dent  Lincoln,  he  organized  and  brought  into  the  field  the  "Lincoln 
Cavalry,"  which  was  the  first  regiment  of  cavalry  organized  for  the 
Union  army. 

General  Mclleynolds  commanded  his  regiment  during  the  first  year  of 
the  war.  Subsequently,  he  was  in  command  of  a  brigade  for  nearly  two 
years  and  of  a  division  for  some  six  months,  when,  his  term  of  service 
having  expired,  he  received  an  honorable  discharge,  returned  to  his 
home  at  Grand  Rapids,  and  again  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

General  McReynolds  has  held  many  important  civil  positions,  and  has 
lived  a  very  eventful  life.  Shortly  after  coming  to  Detroit  he  became 
connected  with  the  Michigan  Bank,  and  remained  in  it  four  years. 

He  was  an  alderman  of  the  city  of  Detroit  in  1838-39,  and  in  the  latter 
year  was  elected  a  representative  to  the  State  legislature,  serving  in  that 
body  during  the  session  of  1839-40.  He  was  a  delegate  from  Michigan 
to  the  Harrisburg  convention  of  December,  1839,  which  nominated  Gen 
eral  Harrison  as  the  Whig  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  Under  Presi- 


582  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ing  firms  in  the  State,  with  a  capital  of  $3,500,000  invested. 
These  firms  give  employment  to  about  1,000  men,  in  the  manu 
facture  of  salt  and  the  business  incident  thereto.  Their  manufac 
turing  capacity  is  about  1,158,000  barrels  per  annum. 

The  following  shows  the  districts,  and  the  character  and 
capacity  of  the  works,  as  arranged  by  the  State  salt  inspector : 

District  No.  1,  East  Saginaw,  has  4  salt  companies,  with  10 
kettles,  1  steam  and  2  pan  blocks.  Capacity  140,000  barrels. 

District  No.  2,  South  Saginaw,  10  firms,  with  10  kettles  and  3 
steam  blocks.  Capacity  135,000  barrels. 

District  No.  3,  Saginaw  City,  8  firms,  with  5  kettles,  7  steam 
and  1  pan  block.  Capacity  150,000  barrels. 

District  No.  4,  Carrolton,  6  firms,  with  12  kettles,  2  steam  and 
1  pan  block.  Capacity  175,000  barrels. 

District  No.  5,  Zilwaukee,  6  firms,  with  3  kettles,  4  steam  and 
3  pan  blocks,  and  2,776  solar  salt  covers.  Capacity  150,000 
barrels. 

District  No.  6,  Portsmouth,  Bay  City  and  Salzburg,  9  firms, 
with  6  kettles  and  8  steam  blocks.  Capacity  175,000  barrels. 

District  No.  7,  Bay,  Banks  and  Kawkawlin,  13  firms,  with  4 
kettles,  7  steam  and  5  pan  blocks,  and  521  solar  salt  covers. 
Capacity  175,000  barrels. 

dent  Tyler,  he  was  Indian  agent  for  some  three  years.  He  was  elected 
State  senator  from  Detroit,  in  1846,  and  served  until  he  entered  the  army 
during  the  Mexican  war.  He  was  prosecuting  attorney  of  Wayne  county 
in  1851-52,  and  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  of  Detroit,  and 
its  first  president  under  its  charter.  General  McReynolds  was  United 
States  district  attorney  for  the  western  district  of  Michigan,  at  Grand 
Rapids,  under  President  Johnson,  and  was  the  Democratic  and  Liberal 
Republican  nominee  for  Congress  in  the  fifth  Michigan  district  in  the 
fall  of  1872,  but  was  defeated  by  his  Republican  opponent,  the  late  Hon. 
Wilder  D.  Foster. 

General  McReynolds  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  the  citizens  of  Michi 
gan,  and  in  fact  of  the  whole  Union,  for  his  gallant  and  long  service  in 
.defense  of  the  flag  of  his  adopted  country,  and  his  name  will  long  be 
honored  and  cherished  by  them,  not  only  for  his  brave  military  deeds, 
but  also  for  the  prominent  and  noble  acts  of  his  civic  life. 

He  is  at  present  residing  in  Grand  Rapids',  where  he  moved  in  1859, 
and  is  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession. 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN. 


588 


District  No.  8,  Huron  county,  3  firms,  one  at  Port  Austin,  one 
at  Caseville,  and  one  at  White  Rock.  They  have  2  kettles,  1 
steam  and  2  pan  blocks,  and  50  solar  salt  covers.  Capacity  50,000 
barrels. 


D.   M.  FERRY. 

D.  M.  FERRY  was  born  in  Lowville,  Lewis  county,  New  York;  in  1833. 
His  father  died  when  he  was  but  three  years  of  age,  and  shortly  after  his 
mother  removed  with  her  two  children  to  Penfield,  Monroe  county,  in 
the  western  part  of  the  same  State.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  Master  Ferry 
started  in  life  on  his  own  account,  by  engaging  to  work  for  a  neighboring 
farmer  during  the  summer  of  1849,  for  ten  dollars  per  month.  He 
remained  in  the  farmer's  employment  two  summers,  attending  a  country 
school  in  the  neighborhood  during  the  winter  season.  Being  forcibly 
impressed  with  a  desire  to  obtain  a  liberal  education  such  as  could  not 
be  acquired  at  a  country  school,  he  secured  a  situation  with  a  gentleman 


584  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

District  No.  9,  Mount  Clemens,  1  firm,  with  1  steam  block. 
Capacity  8,000  barrels. 

At  St.  Clair  a  well  was  sunk  several  years  since.  Good  brine 
was  obtained,  and  a  salt  block  erected,  from  which  a  prime  quality 
of  salt  was  manufactured ;  but  the  manufacture  was  soon  aban 
doned,  owing,  it  is  said  to  the  high  price  of  fuel. 

The  manufacture  of  salt  has  also  commenced  in  East  Tawas, 
and  a  new  inspection  district  is  about  to  be  erected. 

The  quality  of  Michigan  salt  is  unsurpassed,  and  is  rapidly 
taking  the  place  of  all  others  in  the  markets  of  the  West.  The 
following  chemical  analysis  will  show  its  character :  Chloride  of 
sodium,  97.288 ;  chloride  of  calcium,  0.229  ;  chloride  of  magne 
sium,  0.340 ;  sulphate  of  lime,  0.697 ;  moisture,  1.300  ;  insoluble 
matter,  0.046.  Total,  100.000. 

The  refuse  from  the  manufactories  is  now  being  utilized.  It 
produces  aniline,  one  of  the  best  known  bases  of  color,  and  bromo- 
chloralum,  an  excellent  disinfectant. 

of  wealth,  near  Rochester,  New  York,  in  order  to  avail  himself,  during 
the  winter  months,  of  the  benefits  of  more  advanced  city  schools.  After 
remaining  in  the  last  mentioned  gentleman's  employment  for  a  consider 
able  time,  and  making  substantial  advancement  in  his  studies,  his 
employer,  being  favorably  moved  by  his  industry  and  apt  perseverance, 
kindly  assisted  him  in  procuring  a  situation  in  a  wholesale  and  retail 
book  store  in  Detroit,  where  he  arrived  in  November,  1852. 

As  we  have  already  seen,  while  only  a  boy  Mr.  Ferry  was  thrown  upon 
his  own  resources  and  left  quite  alone  in  his  struggles  with  the  world. 
But  simultaneously  with  this  early  commencement  to  do  for  himself,  he 
seems  to  have  been  endowed  with  energy  and  ability  equal  to  the  task. 

There  are  but  few  men  in  the  whole  Northwest  who  have  in  so  short  a 
time  made  such  progress  in  business,  and  became  so  favorably  and  gener 
ally  known  to  the  people  of  the  central,  southern  and  western  States,  as 
Mr.  D.  M.  Ferry,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Messrs.  D.  M.  Ferry  &  Co., 
of  Detroit.  He  commenced  in  the  seed  business  in  Detroit  in  1856,  when 
only  twenty-three  years  of  age.  This  beginning  was  exceedingly  small, 
but,  through  almost  matchless  energy  and  enterprise,  in  the  short  space 
of  seventeen  years,  Mr.  Ferry  has  established  an  immense  and  profitable 
business,  and  accumulated  for  himself  an  ample  fortune. 

Such  men  are  indeed  a  credit  to  the  metropolis  of  Michigan,  as  they 
are  rapidly  placing  her  among  the  first  commercial  States  in  the  Union. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


585 


GYPSUM. 

The  discovery  of  gypsum  in  Michigan  dates  as  far  back  as  the 
time  when  General  Cass  was  Governor  of  the  Territory.  Nothing 
was  done  in  the  way  of  developing  the  beds  until  1840,  when  the 


HON.   IRA    MAYHEW. 

IRA  MAYHEW,  late  superintendent  of  public  instruction  of  the  State  of 
Michigan,  was  born  in  Ellisburg,  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  in  1814. 

He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  entered  the  Union  Aca 
demy  in  Belleville  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  commenced  teaching  school 
in  1832,  and  followed  this  profession  with  eminent  success  until  1836, 
when,  finding  his  health  considerably  impaired,  he  made  a  voyage  to  the 
banks  of  Newfoundland.  In  1837,  he  was  appointed  principal  of  the 
Adams  Seminary,  in  which  capacity  he  labored  until  the  fall  of  1841, 


586  GENERAL   HISTORY    OP   THE   STATES. 

first  plaster  mill  was  erected  at  Grand  Rapids.  Two  years  before 
this  Dr.  Douglass  Hough  ton  visited  the  Grand  Rapids  beds,  and 
made  a  report  which  led  to  their  development.  The  stratum  of 
gypsum  at  this  place  is  from  eighteen  to  twenty  feet  in  thickness, 
and  covers  an  area  of  about  1,000  acres.  The  manufacture  of 
plaster  at  Grand  Rapids  aggregates  about  40,000  tons  of  land 
plaster,  and  about  60,000  barrels  of  stucco  per  annum.  About 
$500,000  is  invested  in  the  business,  giving  employment  to  ab&ut 
three  hundred  men. 

It  is  an  excellent  fertilizer,  and  finds  a  ready  market  among  the 
farmers  of  this  State  and  of  Indiana. 

Plaster  is  also  found  at  Alabaster,  losco  county,  and  in  the 
Upper  Peninsula.  The  mines  at  Alabaster  were  only  opened 
about  six  or  seven  years  ago.  They  are  located  close  to  the  water's 
edge,  on  an  excellent  harbor,  and  the  facilities  for  mining  and 
shipping  are  excellent.  The  plaster  is  taken  from  the  mines  to 
the  dock  over  a  tramway,  where  it  is  dumped  from  the  cars  into 
the  vessel. 

A  chemical  analysis  of  the  gypsum  found  in  Michigan  presents 
the  following  result :  Sulphuric  acid,  48  ;  lime,  32 ;  water,  20. 
Total,  100. 

This  business  is  destined  to  assume  great  magnitude,  as  the 
country  settles  up  and  the  agricultural  resources  are  developed. 
Its  value  as  a  fertilizer  is  rapidly  becoming  known  and  appreci 
ated,  and  the  demand  increases  from  year  to  year. 

when  he  was  elected  county  superintendent  of  common  schools  in  his 
native  county. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  first  term  as  county  superintendent,  in  1843, 
Mr.  Mayhew  removed  to  Michigan,  where  his  most  valuable  labors  for 
the  promotion  of  educational  interests  have  been  performed.  The  people 
of  the  Peninsular  State  were  neither  slow  to  observe  his  qualifications, 
nor  backward  in  securing  the  services  of  his  talents.  He  was  first 
appointed  principal  of  the  Monroe  branch  of  the  State  University,  and, 
in  the  winter  of  1845,  he  was  nominated  by  the  Governor  and  elected  by 
the  legislature  to  the  office  of  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  a 
position  to  which  he  was  reflected  in  1847.  The  Middletown  University, 
Connecticut,  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  in  1848. 

In  the  early  part  of  1849,  he  delivered,  by  invitation,  a  series  of  lectures 


HI8TOBY   OF   MICHIGAN.  587 

COAL. 

Geologists  have  long  since  demonstrated  the  fact  that  an 
immense  coal  basin  underlies  the  whole  central  portion  of  the 
State.  Prof.  J.  W.  Foster  estimates  the  coal  field  of  Michigan  to 
be  about  one  hundred  feet  in  thickness,  and  to  cover  an  area  of 
five  thousand  square  miles.  Mines  have  thus  far  been  opened  at 
Jackson,  at  Corunna,  Shiawassee  county,  and  at  Williamston,  in 
the  county  of  Ingham.  The  first  operations  in  this  line  com 
menced  in  1858,  at  Jackson,  and  this  mine  has  been  regularly 
worked  since  that  time.  The  coal  is  bituminous,  and  is  strongly 
impregnated  with  sulphur,  which  renders  it  unpopular  for  domestic 
use.  In  many  branches  of  manufacture,  however,  it  is  well 
adapted  and  largely  employed.  The  coal  improves  in  quality  as 
the  shaft  descends  through  the  stratum. 

At  Corunna,  mining  operations  have^been  carried  on  for  about 
ten  years.  The  quality  of  the  coal  is  similar  to  that  at  Jackson. 
A  vein  containing  a  very  superior  quality  of  coal  has  recently 
been  opened,  which  bids  fair  to  prove  of  great  importance.  A 
railroad  track  has  been  laid  directly  to  the  mine,  thus  affording 
the  best  facilities  for  shipment. 

The  coal  found  at  Williamston  is  much  superior  in  quality  to 
that  of  either  of  the  above  mines,  and  resembles,  more  nearly  than 
any  other  in  the  State,  the  celebrated  block  coal  of  Indiana.  Very 
little  has  heretofore  been  done  at  this  mine,  owing  to  a  lack  of 

on  education  in  the  State  Capitol,  after  which  he  was  requested  by  the 
legislature  to  edit  and  publish  a  volume  containing  the  views  set  forth 
in  his  lectures,  and  at  the  end  of  his  second  term  of  office,  he  retired 
from  public  life  a  short  time  for  the  purpose  of  complying  with  that 
request.  This  volume  was  entitled  "  Means  and  Ends  of  Universal  Edu 
cation,"  and  was  received  by  the  public  and  press,  as  well  as  by  dis 
tinguished  men  of  literature,  with  much  praise  and  merited  acceptation. 
In  1851,  he  published  his  work  on  "  Practical  Book-keeping,"  which  up 
to  the  present  date  has  passed  through  more  than  ninety  editions. 

In  1853,  Mr.  Mayhew  was  elected  President  of  Albion  Seminary  and 
College.  After  occupying  this  position  one  year,  he  was  recalled  to  the 
office  of  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  and,  in  1856,  he  was 
elected  for  the  fourth  time  to  this  office,  by  the  largest  majority  given  to 


588  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

railroad  facilities.  But  this  difficulty  has  recently  been  overcome, 
and  mining  is  carried  on  vigorously. 

Coal  mining  in  Michigan  is  yet  in  its  infancy;  but  there  is 
enough  within  the  limits  of  the  State  to  supply  the  furnaces  of  the 
world  for  thousands  of  years  to  come. 

OTHER  MINERALS. 

There  are  many  other  minerals  in  the  State  besides  those  enum 
erated  above,  some  of  which  are  destined  to  be  developed  and  add 
greatly  to  the  wealth  of  Michigan.  Silver  and  gold  are  known  to 
exist  in  the  Upper  Peninsula.  The  former,  in  no  inconsiderable 
quantities,  has  been  found  in  the  copper  mines.  Lead  and  plum 
bago  are  also  known  to  exist  in  that  region.  The  Indians  supplied 
themselves  with  bullets  from  mines  at  Lake  Superior,  but  could 
never  be  induced  to  reveal  the  locality  from  which  they  obtained 
it.  Mines  have  already  been  opened,  but  never  worked  to  any 
great  extent.  It  is  safe  to  predict,  however,  that  at  no  distant 
day  profitable  mines  will  be  opened,  and  thus  another  branch  of 
mining  industry  will  be  added  to  the  other  resources  of  the  State. 

The  business  of  manufacturing  grindstones  has  assumed  con 
siderable  magnitude  of  late,  the  Huron  grit-stones  being  unri 
valed  in  the  market. 

Marble,  of  great  variety  and  superior  quality,  is  also  found  in 
the  Marquette  iron  region. 

any  candidate  on  the  State  ticket  up  to  that  time,  which  was  an  unmis 
takable  evidence  of  the  popular  appreciation  of  the  valuable  services  he 
had  rendered  in  this  important  part  of  the  State  government.  He  retired 
from  public  life  for  a  time  in  18S9,  having  served  the  State  in  the  same 
high  office  for  eight  years. 

The  next  year,  Mr.  Mayhew  thoroughly  revised  and  republished  his 
work  on  "Practical  Book-keeping." 

The  same  year,  he  established  the  Albion  Commercial  College,  which 
was  afterwards  removed  to  Detroit,  and  is  noticed  in  another  part  of  this 
work,  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  educational  interests  of  Michigan. 

In  1862,  he  was  appointed  to  and  accepted  the  office  of  collector  of 
internal  revenue  for  the  third  district  of  Miclygan,  which  position  he 
held  until  1865,  since  when,  his  whole  time  has  been  occupied  in  con 
ducting  his  Business  College  in  Detroit. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


589 


Yellow  and  red  ochre  and  manganese  beds  are  found  in  the  St. 
Mary's  Peninsula,  where  coloring  material  can  be  mined  in  unlim 
ited  quantities. 

Building  stone  of  a  very  superior  quality  is  found  in  various 


JAMES  NALL,  JR. 

JAMES  NALL,  JR.,  was  born  in  Huddersfield,  England,  in  April,  1828, 
and  came  to  America  with  his  parents  when  only  four  years  old. 

His  father,  Rev.  James  Nail,  a  Congregational  minister,  of  consider 
able  reputation  in  Canada,  being  favorably  impressed  with  the  practical 
side  of  life,  resolved  to  settle  his  sons  on  farms,  and  in  furtherance  of 
this  purpose,  purchased  in  the  fall  of  1844,  a  tract  of  land  located  in  the 
heart  of  a  forest  about  twelve  miles  northwest  of  Port  Sarnia,  Ontario. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  when  only  sixteen 
years  of  age,  in  company  with  his  brother,  set  out  from  his  home  in 


590  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

localities,  equal  in  beauty  and  durability  to  the  free  stone  of  New 
England. 

Material  for  quick  limes  and  hydraulic  limes  is  also  found  in 
unlimited  quantities.  Clays  of  every  variety  for  brick  making 
are  found  in  the  greatest  abundance.  White  and  lemon  colored 
bricks,  so  popular  for  building  fronts,  are  made  in  many  locali 
ties.  Vast  quantities  of  peat  are  found  in  many  places,  which,  in 
future  years,  will  prove  of  immense  value. 

LUMBER. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  region  on  this  continent  of  the  same 
area  possesses  so  much  of  valuable  timber  as  Michigan.  Not  less 
than  20,000,000  acres,  or  one-half  the  area  of  the  State,  was 
originally  covered  with  pine.  What  are  here  mentioned  as  pine 
lands  must  not  be  understood  as  being  covered  exclusively  with 
that  timber.  Along  the  margins  of  the  streams  the  pine  forests 
are  very  dense  ;  but  away  from  the  streams  it  is  generally  liber 
ally  interspersed  with  various  hard  woods.  The  superior  quality 
of  the  pine  thus  interspersed  with  the  hard  timber  amply  compen 
sates  for  the  lack  of  quantity. 

Burford,  Ontario,  to  clear  up  a  farm  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  forest.  They 
spent  the  winter  at  this  work  and  in  the  following  spring  had  eleven 
acres  cleared,  but  the  amount  of  labor  it  had  taken  to  accomplish  this 
task  caused  Mr.  Nail  to  seek  some  other  less  laborious  employment. 

Accordingly  he  visited  Port  Sarnia  and  secured  a  position  in  the  general 
store  of  the  Hon  Malcolm  Cameron,  with  whom  he  remained  two  years 
and  a  half,  and  until  that  gentleman  had  retired  from  business  Upon 
closing  out  his  business  Mr.  Cameron  offered  to  procure  Mr.  Nail  a  situation 
either  in  Toronto  or  Montreal.  He  declined  this  offer,  however,  having 
already  closely  watched  and  admired  the  march  of  commercial  prosperity 
in  the  United  States,  he  procured  a  letter  of  recommendation  from  his 
former  employer  to  the  Hon.  Zachariah  Chandler,  of  Detroit,  and  visit 
ing  that  city  in  1848,  was  engaged  by  that  gentleman,  with  whom  he 
remained  uiitil  1853,  when  he  went  into  the  employ  of  Mr.  William  A. 
Raymond,  a  prominent  dry  goods  merchant  in  Detroit  at  that  time.  After 
serving  with  this  gentleman  for  two  years  he  succeeded  to  a  one-third 
interest  in  the  establishment,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  three  succeed 
ing  years  he  became  an  equal  partner  with  Mr.  Raymond.  About  one 
year  from  this  time  the  senior  partner  died,  and  the  entire  business 


HISTORY    OF    MICHIGAN. 


591 


The  principal  lumber  region,  thus  far  developed,  is  the  valley 
of  the  Saginaw  river,  and  along  its  tributary  streams,  extending 
to  the  upper  Muskegon,  and  thence  to  Lake  Michigan.  The 
region  around  Thunder  Bay  also  contains  a  large  area  of  pine 


RESIDENCE   OF  JAMES   NALL,  JR. 

passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr   Nail,  who  is  still  conducting  it,  but  on  a 
much  larger  scale,  and  with  the  same  characteristic  success. 

In  the  early  part  of  1872  Mr.  Nail  began  the  erection  of  a  residence  on 
Jefferson  avenue,  opposite  Christ's  church,  Detroit,  of  which  the  above 
engraving  is  a  representation.  It  is  now  completed  and  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  handsomest,  in  point  of  exterior  adornments,  in  the  city.  It 
is  located  on  large  and  pleasant  grounds  which  have  an  extended  frontage 
on  Jefferson  avenue  and  Larned  street.  The  interior  of  the  residence  has 
been  arranged  with  great  care,  and  the  whole  constitutes  a  very  fashion 
able  and  commodious  dwelling. 


592  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

timber,  and  the  Au  Sable  and  the  Manistee  rivers  penetrate  an 
immense  pine  region.  On  all  these  streams  lumbering  operations 
are  extensively  carried  on,  but  the^principal  sources  of  supply  are 
at  present  the  Saginaw  valley  on  the  east,  and  on  the  Muskegon 
river  on  the  west. 

Before  railroads  penetrated  the  pine  forests  of  the  interior,  lum 
bering  operations  were  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  immedi 
ate  vicinity  of  streams.  The  logs  were  cut  in  the  winter,  and 
hauled  on  the  snow  to  the  streams,  and  floated  to  the  mills  on  the 
current  formed  by  the  spring  freshets.  With  the  advent  of  rail 
roads,  immense  tracts  of  valuable  pine,  heretofore  inaccessible, 
have  been  brought  into  the  market.  Mills  spring  up  along  the 
tracks  of  the  railroads  as  they  are  laid  through  the  forests,  flour 
ishing  villages  appear  as  if  by  magic,  the  forests  are  cleared  and 
brought  under  cultivation,  thus  giving  employment  to  thousands 
of  men,  homes  and  productive  farms  to  the  hardy  pioneers,  and 
abundant  and  remunerative  employment  to  the  railroads  in  trans 
porting  lumber  and  supplies.  The  principal  roads  that  have  thus 
penetrated  the  pine  forests  of  the  interior  are  the  Jackson,  Lan 
sing  and  Saginaw,  the  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette,  and  Grand  Rap 
ids  and  Indiana  Railroads. 

It  is  estimated  that  there  are  about  7,000,000  acres  of  pine 
lands  in  the  Lower  Peninsula  that  are  yet  untouched.  It  is  true 
that  some  of  this  is  interspersed  with  hard  wood  timber ;  but  that 
is  compensated  for  by  the  fact  that  the  pine  is  of  better  quality 
and  the  lands  better  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  agriculture  than 
those  covered  exclusively  with  pine.  In  the  Upper  Peninsula  it 
is  estimated  that  there  are  at  least  10,000,000  acres  of  pine  as  yet 
untouched,  which  will  produce,  probably,  7,000,000,000  feet  of 
lumber. 

It  may  be  well  in  this  connection  to  correct  a  mistake  that  pre 
vails  to  a  great  extent  in  reference  to  the  adaptation  of  pine  lands 
to  the  purposes  of  agriculture.  No  better  farming  lands  exist 
than  those  which  have  produced  a  mixed  growth  of  pine  and 
hard  wood  timber ;  and  even  the  land  that  has  been  covered 
exclusively  with  pine  is  very  rich  and  productive  under  proper 
care  and  management. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


593 


The  quality  of  Michigan  pine  is  unsurpassed  for  the  purposes 
of  lumber.  It  is  principally  white  pine,  of  which  there  are  sev 
eral  varieties.  Norway  pine  grows  abundantly  in  some  localities, 
but  the  proportion  is  small  compared  with  the  more  valuable 


JAMES  W.  FRISBIE. 

JAMES  W.  FKISBIE  was  born  in  New  York  State,  in  1828.  In  1857  he 
visited  Detroit,  and  immediately  commenced  the  dry  goods  business, 
locating  at  No.  167  Jefferson  avenue,  one  door  from  the  corner  of  Wood 
ward  avenue.  His  business  increased  rapidly,  and  in  a  few  years  his 
establishment  included  No.  53  Woodward  avenue,  connecting  in  the  rear 
with  his  original  store  on  Jefferson  avenue.  Following  these  strides  of 
success  came  a  still  further  extension,  which  included  the  store  No.  55 
on  the  former  thoroughfare. 

It  should  be  stated  that  at  that  date  Detroit  had  little  more  than 
38 


594  GENERAL    HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES.' 

white  pines.  On  the  best  pine  lands  the  quantity  of  hard  wood 
often  exceeds  that  of  pine.  In  many  parts  of  the  State  walnut 
and  cherry  grow  in  abundance,  and  are  largely  used  by  the  furni 
ture  makers  of  the  State  and  of  the  East.  Oak  grows  abundantly 
in  many  localities,  and  the  trade  in  that  timber  for  ship-building 
purposes  is  of  late  years  assuming  magnificent  proportions.  Aside 
from  that  used  in  the  ship-yards  along  our  own  shores,  vast  quan 
tities  are  annually  shipped  to  Montreal,  Quebec,  Buffalo  and 
Cleveland.  In  the  interior,  where  the  heavy  ship-timber  cannot 
be  transported  to  the  streams,  the  oak  is  manufactured  into  staves, 
which  are  shipped  mainly  to  Europe  and  the  West  Indies. 

It  may  be  proper  in  this  connection  to  correct  an  erroneous 
impression  that  has  gone  abroad,  backed  by  apparently  high 
authority,  in  reference  to  the  variety  of  oak  timber  that  is  shipped 
from  this  State  for  purposes  of  ship-building.  Reference  is  had 
to  the  popular  belief  that  the  variety  known  as  "  live  oak  "  grows 
abundantly  in  the  forests  of  Michigan.  The  fact  is  live  oak  does 
not  grow  in  this  State  at  all.  That  variety  is  only  found  in  the 
Southern  States,  and  is  known  to  botanists  as  Quercus  virens.  The 
variety  which  forms  the  bulk  of  the  shipments  from  Michigan  is 

awakened  from  what  journalism  denominates  "  ancestral  lethargy."  The 
highways  of  commerce  had  just  opened  their  gateways  of  trade,  and  the 
great  City  of  the  Straits  of  the  present  day  was  commercially  an  infant. 
In  the  light  of  these  facts,  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  properly  estimate  the 
value  of  such  effort  and  innovation  as  were  put  forth  by  Mr.  Frisbie  dur 
ing  the  first  six  years  of  his  business  life  in  Detroit.  In  remodeling  and 
modernizing  the  stores  occupied  by  him  at  the  corner  of  Woodward  and 
Jefferson  avenues,  he  introduced  the  first  plate  glass  windows  in  this  city, 
which  at  that  time,  reaching  from  the  pavement  to  the  ceiling,  created 
wonder  and  admiration.  These  early  improvements  had  a  most  salutary 
influence  in  producing  in  rapid  succession  the  many  splendid  features  of 
modern  Detroit. 

When  the  collection  of  stores  occupied  by  Mr.  Frisbie  on  Jefferson  and 
Woodward  avenues  became  too  narrow  for  his  continually  expanding 
business,  he  removed  to  the  extensive  Weber  block,  further  up  Wood 
ward  avenue,  which  he  still  occupies.  In  this  new  and  elegant  building 
he  opened  to  the  public  one  of  the  finest  retail  dry  goods  houses  in  the 
Northwest. 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN.  595 

Quereus  alba,  popularly  known  as  white  oak.  It  is  highly  esteemed 
for  ship-building,  and  is  only  exceeded  in  value  for  that  purpose 
by  the  live  oak  of  the  South. 

The  following  will  serve  to  give  some  idea  of  the  magnitude  of 
the  lumber  and  timber  trade  of  Michigan  : 

In  the  year  1872  the  aggregate  of  pine  lumber  cut  by  the  mills 
of  the  State  was  2,253,011,000  feet.  Of  this  amount,  the  mills 
of  the  Saginaw  valley  cut  837,798,484  feet.  The  Muskegon  Lake 
mills  cut  316,031,400  feet;  the  Huron  shore  mills  175,500,000; 
Manistee  mills,  161,900,000  ;  Grand  Haven  mills,  150,000,000 ; 
Menominee  mills,  136,113,360 ;  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette  Rail 
way  mills,  114,234,554;  White  Lake  mills,  85,302,347 ;  Detroit 
and  St.  Clair  River  mills,  80,000,000  ;  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Sag 
inaw  Railway  mills,  68,216,009 ;  Saugatuck  mills,  50,000,000 ; 
Ludington  mills,  47,912,846  ;  other  mills,  30,000,000. 

Of  shingles  it  is  estimated  that  not  less  than  400,000,000  were 
produced  the  same  year.  Of  lath  about  300,000,000. 

The  shipments  of  staves  for  the  same  year  were  as  follows  : 
Saginaw  river,  8,663,200  ;  Detroit,  2,102,000  ;  Port  Huron,  1,536,- 
900 ;  Lexington,  204,000  ;  New  Baltimore,  184,000. 

About  $20,000,000  are  invested  in  the  production  of  pine  lum 
ber,  giving  employment  to  nearly  twenty  thousand  persons.  This 
estimate  does  not  include  the  enormous  amount  of  money  invested 
in  pine  lands,  nor  the  men  employed  in  the  transportation  of  the 
lumber  to  market,  or  those  employed  in  the  lumber  camps  in  the 
woods. 

In  addition  to  the  pine  timber  of  the  State,  as  before  intimated, 
the  hard  wood  forests  are  immense  and  valuable.  These,  espe 
cially  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Lower  Peninsula,  have 
scarcely  been  touched.  The  quality  of  that  kind  of  timber  in  the 
forests  of  Michigan  is  unrivaled ;  and  it  is  safe  to  predict  that  but 
a  few  years  will  elapse  before  the  product  from  this  source  will 
equal  in  value  the  present  traffic  in  pine. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 


EDUCATION  IN  MICHIGAN  —  THE  COMMON  SCHOOL  SYSTEM  —  THE  UNI 
VERSITY  —  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE  —  STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL  — 
ALBION  COLLEGE — ADRIAN  COLLEGE — KALAMAZOO  COLLEGE — HILLS- 
DALE  COLLEGE — OLIVET  COLLEGE — STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL — STATE 
PUBLIC  SCHOOL — ASYLUM  FOR  THE  DEAF,  DUMB  AND  BLIND  — 
MICHIGAN  FEMALE  SEMINARY  —  DETROIT  MEDICAL  COLLEGE  — 
DETROIT  HOMEOPATHIC  COLLEGE— GOLDSMITH'S  BRYANT  &  STRAT- 
TON  BUSINESS  UNIVERSITY — MAYHEW  BUSINESS  COLLEGE. 

THE  ordinance  passed  by  Congress  for  the  government  of  the 
Northwestern  Territory,  known  as  the  Ordinance  of  1787,  pro 
vided  that  "  Schools  and  the  means  of  education  shall  forever 
be  encouraged."  In  1804  Congress  passed  an  act  providing  for 
the  sale  of  lands  in  the  Indian  Territory,  of  which  Michigan 
was  a  part,  and  in  that  act  there  was  an  express  reservation 
from  sale  of  Section  16  in  every  township,  "for  the  support  of 
schools."  The  year  following  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was 
organized,  and  all  the  rights  and  privileges  which  were  conferred 
by  the  above  named  acts  were  confirmed  to  the  Territory  of 
Michigan.  Subsequently  a  provision  was  incorporated  in  the 
State  constitution  declaring  that  the  proceeds  of  these  lands  shall 
"  remain  a  perpetual  fund  for  that  object."  The  ordinance 
admitting  Michigan  into  the  Union  declared  that  section  16  of 
each  township  should  be  granted  to  the  State  for  the  use  of 
schools.  The  wisdom  of  this  provision  can  be  readily  under 
stood  when  it  is  known  that  much  difficulty  arose  in  other  States 
from  the  inequality  of  the  grant  in  different  townships.  This 
inequality  was  owing  to  the  fact  that  in  some  townships  the  sec 
tion  would  be  found  to  be  utterly  worthless.  This  led  to  serious 
difficulties,  and  Congress  or  the  Legislature  was  constantly 
besieged  by  these  townships  to  come  to  their  relief.  Learning 
wisdom  from  the  experience  of  other  States,  Michigan  submitted 


HISTORY  OF   MICHIGAN. 


597 


an  ordinance  granting  the  lands  to  the  State  at  large;  thus 
equalizing  the  grant  among  the  several  townships,  and  obviating 
the  difficulty  experienced  by  other  States  who  had  attempted  to 
carry  out  the  original  design  of  Congress  by  giving  each  township 


J.   H.   GOLDSMITH. 

J.  H.  GOLDSMITH,  President  of  Goldsmith's  Bryant  and  Stratton  Busi 
ness  College,  Detroit,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Newburg,  Orange  county, 
New  York,  in  1813. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-four,  he  went  to  Ohio,  taking  up  his  residence  in 
Deavertown,  which  was  at  that  time  a  young  but  flourishing  town.  Mr. 
Goldsmith  first  secured  a  position  as  book-keeper  with  a  merchant  in  that 
place;  but  without  taxing  the  reader  with  the  details  of  his  industry,  or 
by  following  him  step  by  step  in  the  hours  of  his  hope  and  struggle,  it  is 
sufficient  to  state  that  in  six  years  after  his  arrival  in  Deavertown  he  was 


598  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

separate  control  of  the  section  granted.  Under  the  arrangement 
adopted  in  the  case  of  Michigan,  the  loss  occasioned  by  worthless 
sections  fell  upon  the  State  at  large,  and  the  benefits  accrued  to 
all  alike,  each  sharing,  in  common  with  the  rest,  the  benefits  of 
the  common  school  fund. 

The  first  law  passed  by  the  Territorial  Legislature  in  reference 
to  schools  was  in  1827.  This  law  provided  that  the  citizens  of 
any  township  having  fifty  householders  should  provide  themselves 
with  a  school  teacher,  of  good  moral  character,  to  teach  the 
children  to  read  and  write.  Any  township  having  two  hundred 
householders  was  required  to  provide  themselves  with  a  teacher 
who  was  capable  of  teaching  Latin,  French  and  English.  A 
penalty  of  $50  to  $100  was  provided  for  neglect  to  comply  with 
the  provisions  of  the  law.  In  1833  another  law  was  passed 
creating  the  office  of  superintendent  of  common  schools.  It  also 
provided  for  three  commissioners  and  ten  inspectors,  who  were  to 
have  charge  of  the  school  lands. 

Upon  the  admission  of  the  State  into  the  Union,  in  1837,  the 
first  State  Legislature  passed  a  primary  school  law,  similar,  in 
almost  every  respect,  to  the  law  of  the  State  of  New  York.  It 
provided  for  the  division  of  the  State  into  school  districts,  having 
a  sufficient  number  of  inhabitants  to  support  a  teacher.  All 
grades  of  pupils  were  admitted  to  these  schools.  When  the  pop- 
elected  to  the  office  of  Mayor  of  that  place.  Having  served  the  people 
in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  during  the  first  term,  he  was  designated  by 
the  popular  voice  to  fill  the  same  position  a  second  term.  He  remained 
in  Deavertown  until  1849,  and  during  his  residence  in  that  place  occupied 
many  offices  of  public  trust  in  the  municipal  government,  besides  mak 
ing  considerable  advancement  in  mercantile  pursuits. 

In  1849,  he  accepted  the  position  of  teacher  in  the  business  college  of 
Mr.  John  Gundry,  at  Cincinnati,  and  since  that  date  his  life  has  been 
uninterruptedly  devoted  to  the  interesting  theme  of  actual  business  prac 
tice,  and  with  what  results  will  be  seen  anon. 

After  several  years  in  this  college  at  Cincinnati,  which  gave  him  no 
small  reputation  as  a  professor  of  commercial  ethics  and  business  disci 
pline,  Mr.  Goldsmith  went  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  opened  the  Commer 
cial  Institute  in  connection  with  the  School  of  Design  in  that  place. 
Subsequently  he  was  induced  by  Messrs.  Bryant  &  Stratton  to  accept  a 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  599 

illation  increased  so  that  the  school'houses  were  too  much  crowded 
the  district  was  subdivided.  The  same  process  was  adopted  in 
the  villages,  the  result  of  which  was  that  there  would  sometimes 
be  five  or  six  school  houses  within  a  stone's  throw  of  each  other. 
Very  little  attention  was  paid  to  school  architecture,  and  some  of 
the  school  houses  were  bad  and  some  were  worse.  The  character 
and  duration  of  the  several  schools  were  also  exceedingly  vari 
able  ;  some  being  good  and  some  poor,  and  some  continued  for 
nine  months  and  some  for  three.  This  state  of  affairs  continued 
for  a  number  of  years ;  but  upon  the  discontinuiug  of  the 
branches  of  the  University,  a  new  system  was  devised.  By  the 
new  plan  the  various  schools  in  the  villages  were  united  into  one. 
These  were  called  union  schools.  They  were  divided  into  several 
departments,  called  primary,  intermediate,  grammar  and  high 
school.  Each  department  was  divided  into  grades  or  classes,  for 
purposes  of  different  degrees  of  advancement.  These  schools  are 
now  designated  as  graded  schools.  The  curriculum  of  the  high 
school  department  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  best  academies,  and 
pupils  graduating  from  the  high  schools  are  entitled  to  enter  the 
University  without  further  examination. 

As  has  been  intimated,  the  character  of  the  school  architecture 
of  the  State  was  of  a  very  low  order  for  many  years.  The  estab 
lishment  of  graded  schools,  however,  created  a  necessity  for  a 

position  as  teacher  in  the  graduating  department  of  the  Buffalo  Bryant  & 
Stratton  Business  College,  and  after  filling  the  last  mentioned  post  with 
honor  to  himself  and  credit  to  the  institution  for  several  years,  he  was 
admitted  as  a  partner,  and  commissioned  to  found  a  Bryant  &  Stratton 
Business  College  in  Detroit.  Accordingly,  in  1857,  he  visited  the  Queen 
City  of  the  Straits,  and  purchased  Mr.  William  D.  Cochrane's  Commer 
cial  Institute.  It  then  took  the  name  of  Bryant,  Stratton  &  Goldsmith's 
Business  College,  which  it  bore  until  1869,  when  the  last  named  gentle 
man  purchased  the  interests  of  his  partners,  thereby  becoming  the  sole 
proprietor  of  one  of  the  best  commercial  institutions  in  the  Northwest. 

It  should  be  stated  that  at  the  death  of  Mr.  Stratton,  which  occurred 
about  this  time,  a  change  in  the  proprietorship  of  all  the  Bryant  & 
Stratton  Business  Colleges  took  place,  the  resident  principal  or  partner  at 
each  point  purchasing  Bryant  &  Stratton's  interest  in  the  same.  This 
necessitated  a  new  and  more  permanent  organization,  based  upon  the 


600  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

better  class  of  buildings.  The  State  had,  in  the  meantime,  grown 
wealthy,  the  people  were  prosperous  and  intelligent,  and  fully 
appreciated  the  demands  of  the  age.  The  result  is  that  Michigan 
possesses,  perhaps,  the  finest  school  buildings  of  any  State  in  the 
Union,  in  proportion  to  its  wealth  and  population.  Each  town 
vied  with  the  others  in  erecting  the  finest  school  edifice,  and  it  is 
not  uncommon  to  find,  in  a  town  of  two  or  three  thousand  inhabi 
tants,  a  school  house  costing  $20,000  or  $30,000.  In  the  cities 
and  larger  towns  they  sometimes  cost  over  $100,000.  There  are 
about  5,500  school  houses  in  the  State,  the  aggregate  value  of 
which  is  estimated  to  be  not  far  from  $7,500,000. 

In  addition  to  the  land  granted  by  act  of  Congress  before 
referred  to,  one-half  the  amount  of  the  cash  sales  of  the  swamp 
lands  of  the  State  goes  to  augment  the  primary  school  fund.  Of 
the  former  there  were  originally  about  1,000,000  acres.  A  little 
over  one-half  of  these  lands  have  been  sold,  from  which  the  sum 
of  $2,601,319  has  been  realized.  From  the  sale  of  swamp  lands 
there  has  been  received  the  sum  of  $218,462,  making  a  total  of 
$2,819,781  as  the  present  school  fund  of  the  State.  It  is  esti 
mated  that  when  the  remaining  school  and  swamp  lands  are  sold, 
the  school  fund  of  Michigan  will  amount  to  at  least  $5,000,000. 

There  are  about  250  graded  schools  in  the  State,  and  5,500 
district  schools.  These  give  employment  to  3,035  male  teachers, 

reciprocity  plan,  in  order  to  perpetuate  the  benefits  of  the  chain  scholar 
ship,  and  to  secure  such  other  advantages  as  would  be  likely  to  flow  from 
organized  effort,  uniformity  of  text-books,  similarity  of  practice,  etc. 

In  answer  to  this  demand  came  the  International  Business  College 
Association,  extending  throughout  the  United  States  and  Canada,  com 
prising  the  best  colleges  formerly  belonging  to  the  Bryant  &  Stratton 
chain,  and  including  some  other  first  class  commercial  institutions  that 
did  not  belong  to  it. 

As  already  observed,  in  1869,  the  Bryant,  Stratton  &  Goldsmith  Detroit 
Business  College  came  under  the  proprietorship  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Goldsmith, 
and  is  noticed  in  another  part  of  this  work,  under  the  head  of  the  educa 
tional  interests  of  Michigan. 

Since  the  above  date,  Mr.  Goldsmith  has  devoted  his  whole  time  to  the 
advancement  and  interests  of  his  college  and  undoubtedly  has  brought  it 
to  nearly  a  state  of  perfection. 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


601 


and  8,624  female  teachers.     The  number  of  children  reported  in 
1872,  between  the  ages  of  five  and  twenty  years,  is  404,235. 

The  purpose  of  the  founders  of  the  school  system  of  Michigan, 
was  to  adopt  that  of  Prussia,  so  far  as  it  was  found  adapted  to  the 


HON.   C.   C.   COMSTOCK. 

CHARLES  C.  COMSTOCK  was  born  March  5,  1818,  in  Sullivan,  Cheshire 
county,  N.  H.  He  is  the  youngest  of  the  family  of  a  respectable  farmer  of 
moderate  means.  At  an  early  age  he  manifested  much  business  tact  and 
enterprise,  was  quite  successful,  and  by  industry  and  economy  (so  com 
mon  among  New  England  people)  at  thirty-five  years  of  age,  had  accu 
mulated  a  property  of  about  $10,000,  and  was  considered  one  of  the  most 
thrifty  farmers  of  that  region.  He  had  also  built  and  operated  two  saw 
mills  there.  With  his  family,  he  removed  to  Grand  Rapids,  in  1853,  and 
was  soon  one  of  the  foremost  in  the  lumbering  and  wood  manufacturing 


602  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

genius  of  our  institutions,  and  the  character  and  condition  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  State.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  no  better  system 
prevails  in  America. 

THE  UNIVERSITY. 

The  act  which  we  have  before  mentioned,  passed  in  1804,  for 
the  disposal  of  the  public  lands  in  the  Indian  Territory,  reserved 
three  townships  "  for  the  use  of  seminaries  of  learning."  The 
year  following  the  Territory  of  Michigan  was  organized,  and  one 
of  these  townships  was  set  apart  for  her  use.  In  1817  Congress 
granted  three  sections  of  land  to  the  College  of  Detroit.  The 
moneys  arising  from  the  sale  of  these  two  grants  of  lands, 
together  with  another  township  subsequently  granted,  constitute 
the  University  fund. 

The  lands  granted  by  the  act  of  1804  were  not  selected  until 
many  years  after.  After  the  lapse  of  twenty  years  the  authorities 
of  the  Territory  decided  to  make  the  selection  ;  but  it  was  then 
discovered  that  so  much  land  had  been  taken  up  by  settlers  that 
it  was  difficult  to  secure  a  good  township  of  which  none  of  the 
lands  had  been  sold.  An  appeal  was  thereupon  made  to  Congress, 
and,  through  the  exertions  of  Hon.  Austin  E.  Wing,  then  territo 
rial  delegate  to  Congress,  that  body  passed  an  act  adding  another 
township  to  the  grant,  and  giving  permission  to  select  the  land  in 
detached  sections.  Aside  from  the  permanent  fund  arising  from 

enterprises  in  that  then  young  but  vigorous  city.  The  financial  crash  of 
1857-60  temporarily  checked  his  business;  but  with  redoubled  energy, 
strong  will,  and  resolution  which  knew  no  failure,  he  rallied,  and  in  a 
short  time  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  most  flourishing  manufactories 
of  cabinet  wares  in  the  West;  had  increased  his  lumbering  operations 
and  several  branches  of  lumber  manufacture  many  fold,  and  also  invested 
largely  in  real  estate,  which  was  rapidly  increasing  in  value.  He 
built  up  and  still  owns  and  operates  one  of  the  largest  pail  and  wooden- 
ware  factories  in  the  West;  and  in  many  other  private  and  public  enter 
prises  has  taken  an  active  and  leading  part.  His  strong  hold  is  to  "  push 
things."  With  unflagging  energy,  tireless  industry,  indefatigable  perse 
verance,  great  power  of  endurance,  thorough  business  integrity,  prompt 
ness  and  punctuality,  strong  judgment,  managing,  even  in  detail,  heavy 
and  various  interests,  he  has  built  up  a  handsome  property,  and  is  reputed 
one  of  the  wealthy  citizens  of  the  State.  A  worker  himself,  he  has  given 


604  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

the  sale  of  these  lands,  the  successive  Legislatures  have  made 
liberal  appropriations  from  time  to  time  for  its  support  and  the 
advancement  of  its  interests. 

The  framers  of  the  constitution  under  which  the  State  was 
organized  took  good  care  to  provide  in  the  organic  law  that  all 
lauds  granted  for  educational  purposes  should  be  invariably 
appropriated,  and  annually  applied  to  the  specific  objects  of  the 
original  grant.  A  similar  provision  was  incorporated  into  the 
present  constitution.  The  University  fund  was  thus  made  inalien 
able,  and  can  never  be  diverted  from  its  proper  uses  without  a 
gross  violation  of  the  organic  law  of  the  State.  Notwithstanding 
those  safeguards  thus  thrown  around  the  University  fund,  it 
required  the  most  jealous  watchfulness  on  the  part  of  the  friends 
of  that  institution,  during  the  monetary  pressure  which  pre 
vailed  in  the  early  history  of  the  State,  to  prevent  a  diversion  of 
the  fund  to  other  purposes. 

The  first  Legislature  which  convened  after  the  admission  of  the 
State  into  the  Union,  passed  a  law  establishing  the  University. 
It  was  not,  however,  until  1841  that  buildings  were  completed,  so 
that  its  work  could  be  entered  upon.  The  act  also  provided  that 
in  addition  to  the  University  proper,  which  was  located  in  Ann 
Arbor,  several  branches  should  be  established  in  various  parts  of 
the  State,  to  serve  as  preparatory  schools.  This  experiment 
proved  to  be  a  failure,  there  not  being  sufficient  funds  arising 

employment  to  thousands,  and  tlius  and  by  the  interest  he  has  taken  in 
municipal  affairs  has  contributed  greatly  to  the  progress  and  material 
growth  of  his  city  and  county.  Though  absorbed  in  business  he  is  liberal 
in  feeling,  responding  freely  to  calls  for  religious,  benevolent  and  public 
purposes.  Mr.  Comstock  has  served  ably  in  official  positions;  was  mayor 
of  Grand  Rapids  for  two  terms,  in  18G3-4;  was  the  Democratic  candidate 
for  governor  of  the  State  in  1870,  receiving  the  full  vote  of  his  party, 
and  in  his  own  county  running  ahead  of  the  rest  of  his  party  ticket.  In 
the  fall  of  1873,  he  received  the  nomination  as  the  people's  candidate  for 
representative  in  Congress  from  his  district  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  death  of  Hon.  W.  D.  Foster,  and  at  the  special  election  held  for  that 
purpose,  he  made  an  unprecedented  run,  reducing  the  majority  of  the 
dominant  party  from  8,006  to  114.  He  may  be  regarded  as  a  prominent 
representative  of  the  successful  business  men  of  the  West. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


605 


from  the  grant  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  University  itself.     It 
was  therefore  abandoned,  after  a  few  years'  trial,  and  the  union 
or  graded  schools  have  now  taken  therplace  of  the  branches. 
The  University  buildings  were  erected  with  borrowed  capital, 


HON.  JONATHAN    SHEARER. 

THE  subject  of  the  following  sketch,  Jonathan  Shearer,  was  born  in 
Colerain,  Hampshire  (now  Franklin)  county,  Massachusetts,  August  23, 
1796.  His  grandfather,  James  Shearer,  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
emigrated  to  this  country  at  an  early  day.  William  Shearer,  father  of 
Jonathan  Shearer,  entered  the  revolutionary  army  at  an  early  age,  and 
served  in  several  of  the  principal  battles  of  the  war  for  independence. 
The  subject  of  this  sketoh  spent  the  early  part  of  his  life  upon  a  farm, 
working  on  the  same  during  the  summer  season  and  usually  attending 
school  in  winter.  He  volunteered  his  services  to  the  State  government 


606  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

the  State  borrowing  $100,000  and  re-loaning  it  to  the  University, 
with  the  understanding  that  principal  and  interest  should  be 
returned  at  some  future  time,  from  money  arising  from  the  sale  of 
University  lands.  In  1842  the  University  was  opened,  having  a 
preparatory  school  connected  with  it.  Two  professors  were 
appointed,  each  having  a  salary  of  $500  per  annum.  They  were 
also  entitled  to  whatever  money  was  paid  for  tuition  in  the  pre 
paratory  school.  A  multitude  of  hindrances  presented  themselves 
in  the  way  of  the  advancement  of  the  University,  but,  notwith 
standing  all  the  difficulties  it  had  to  encounter,  it  soon  rose  to  a 
commanding  position  among  the  educational  institutions  of  the 
country. 

The  governing  body  of  the  institution  consists  of  a  Board  of 
Regents.  They  are  elected  for  a  term  of  eight  years  by  popular 
vote.  The  president  of  the  University  is  ex  officio  president  of 
the  board.  The  University  is  organized  in  three  departments ; 
the  department  of  literature,  science,  and  the  arts ;  the  depart 
ment  of  medicine  and  surgery ;  and  the  department  of  law. 
Each  department  has  its  faculty  of  instruction,  who  are  charged 
with  the  special  management  of  it.  The  University  Senate  is 
composed  of  all  the  faculties,  and  considers  questions  of  common 
interest  and  .importance  to  all  the  departments. 

The  department  of  literature,  science  and  the  arts  has  six  regu- 

in  the  war  of  1812,  but  not  being  of  the  proper  age,  was  rejected.  He 
then  determined  to  ship  as  a  sailor  on  a  privateer,  but  parental  influence 
caused  him  to  change  his  mind. 

In  1814,  he  attended  a  select  school  in  New  York,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  he  commenced  teaching  school  in  and  about  the  districts  where 
he  was  born,  and  also  gave  some  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine  and 
the  statute  laws  of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Shearer  subsequently  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Phelps,  Ontario  county,  in  which  place  he  married. 

Mr.  Shearer  served  as  assessor  in  this  place  for  four  years.  After  a 
residence  of  thirteen  years  in  New  York,  he  sold  his  farm,  removed  to 
Michigan  with  his  family  and  settled  at  Plymouth,  Wayne  county.  Soon 
after  his  settlement  in  the  above  place,  he  was  elected  supervisor,  and 
subsequently  county  commissioner.  Mr.  Shearer  served  the  county  of 
Wayne  in  this  official  position  without  losing  a  single  day  while  he  held 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  607 

lar  and  full  courses  of  four  years  each,  and  two  shorter  courses. 
The  regular  courses  are  the  classical,  the  scientific,  the  Latin  and 
scientific,  the  Greek  and  scientific,  the  course  in  civil  engineering, 
and  the  course  in  mining  engineering.  The  special  courses  are 
the  course  in  analytical  chemistry,  and  the  course  in  pharmacy. 
Past  graduate  courses  are  provided  for  the  graduates  of  this  Uni 
versity,  or  for  the  graduates  of  any  college  or  university,  who 
may  desire  to  pursue  advanced  study,  whether  for  a  second  degree 
or  not.  Students  who  do  not  wish  to  pursue  any  one  of  the  above 
courses  may,  if  they  are  prepared  to  enter  the  University,  pursue 
selected  studies,  for  such  time-— not  less  than  one  semester — as 
they  may  choose.  The  department  of  medicine  and  surgery,  fur 
nishes  instruction  chiefly  by  lectures.  The  lecture  course  extends 
over  a  period  of  six  months.  The  department  of  law,  also,  con 
tinues  its  lectures  for  six  months,  from  the  beginning  of  October 
to  the  end  of  March.  Students  in  any  department  may  enter  the 
classes  in  any  other  upon  obtaining  permission  from  the  faculties 
of  the  respective  departments. 

The  University  library  contains  about  22,000  volumes.  In 
1871  it  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  the  library  of  the  late 
Prof.  Kau,  professor  of  political  economy  in  the  University  of 
Heidelberg,  Germany.  This  library  was  purchased  and  presented 
to  the  University  by  the  Hon.  Philo  Parsons,  of  Detroit.  About 

office.  Soon  after  this,  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  his  first  term,  was  reflected.  While  a  member  of  the  senate, 
Mr.  Shearer  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  agriculture,  and  used 
his  influence  to  organize  a  State  agricultural  society,  and  the  normal 
school  at  Ypsilanti. 

In  1851,  he  was  elected  to  serve  in  the  State  house  of  representatives, 
and  in  1867,  was  elected  to  serve  as  a  member  of  the  convention  to  revise 
the  constitution  of  the  State.  He  contributed  not  a  little  towards 
influencing  the  legislature  to  select  Lansing  as  the  site  of  the  new  State 
Capitol. 

Mr.  Shearer,  at  the  advanced  age  of  seventy-seven,  is  still  active  in 
body  and  mind.  As  an  early  pioneer,  and  as  a  high-minded,  honorable 
citizen,  he  has  long  held  the  respect  and  high  esteem  of  all  those  with 
whom  he  has  been  brought  in  contact,  either  as  a  private  or  a  public 
citizen. 


608  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

two  thousand  dollars  is  annually  appropriated  for  the  enlarge 
ment  of  the  University  library.  The  medical  library  contains 
about  fifteen  hundred  volumes.  The  law  library  contains  about 
three  thousand  volumes.  The  libraries  accessible  to  the  students 
amount,  in  the  aggregate,  to  about  30,000  volumes. 

In  connection  with  the  University  there  is  an  astronomical 
observatory.  This  was  a  donation  from  the  citizens  of  Detroit. 
The  building  consists  of  a  main  part,  with  a  movable  dome,  and 
two  wings,  one  of  which  contains  the  rooms  for  the  observer,  while 
in  the  other  is  mounted  a  splendid  meridian-circle.  This  was  pre 
sented  to  the  University  by  the  Hon.  H.  N.  Walker,  of  Detroit. 
This  instrument  is  one  of  the  largest  and  best  of  its  kind  in  exist 
ence.  The  same  room  contains  a  sidereal  clock,  and  two  collima- 
tors  for  the  determination  of  the  error  of  collimation.  The  west 
wing  contains  a  chronograph,  with  Bond's  new  isodynamic  escape 
ment,  for  recording  observations  by  the  electro-magnetic  method. 
In  the  dome  is  mounted  a  large  refracting  telescope,  with  an 
object  glass  thirteen  inches  in  diameter. 

The  collections  in  the  University  museum  are  illustrative  of 
natural  science,  ethnology,  art,  history,  agriculture,  astronomy  and 
materia  medica,  and  are  constantly  increasing.  The  geological, 
zoological  and  botanical  cabinets  together  are  estimated  to  con 
tain  about  29,000  separate  entries,  and  100,000  specimens. 
Besides  these  there  are  the  departments  of  the  fine  arts  and 
history,  anatomy  and  materia  medica,  and  of  archaeology  and 
relics,  each  of  which  contains  numerous  specimens. 

In  this  University  no  charge  is  made  for  tuition.  The  only 
charges  made  are,  to  residents  in  Michigan,  an  admission  fee  of 
ten  dollars  ;  to  those  who  come  from  other  States,  or  countries,  an 
admission  fee  of  twenty-five  dollars  ;  and  to  every  student  an 
annual  payment  of  ten  dollars.  Females  are  admitted  to  this 
University  on  the  same  condition  as  males. 

The  University  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition,  and  is  acknowl 
edged  as  standing  at  the  head  of  the  educational  institutions  of 
America.  It  has  come  up  through  great  tribulation,  but  the 
glorious  results  amply  compensate  for  the  labor  and  money 
expended  in  bringing  it  to  its  present  state  of  perfection. 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


609 


The  whole  number  of  students  in  the  University,  as  reported  in 
the  calendar  for  1872-3,  is  1,163.  Of  these  476  are  in  the 
department  of  literature,  science  and  the  arts,  357  in  the  depart 
ment  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  331  in  the  department  of  law. 


OKEMOS. 

The  above  engraving  is  a  portrait  of  the  noted  Indian  chief  Okemos, 
who  belonged  to  the  Chippewa  tribe. 

He  was  born  about  the  year  1788,  and  the  first  distinguished  act 
recorded  of  him  is  his  participation  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Sandusky,  in 
the  war  of  1812.  The  commandant  of  the  fort  had  been  ordered  to  sur 
render,  which,  coming  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Indians,  made  them 
much  bolder  than  usual,  and  thay  made  a  charge  upon  the  fort,  but  were 
driven  back.  Cheered  on  by  the  chief  Tecurnseh  and  his  subordinates, 
they  made  a  second  charge  and  were  again  driven  back.  In  this  charge, 
while  urging  on  his  braves,  Okemos  was  severely  wounded  in  the 
shoulder,  the  bullet  passing  through  his  body.  He  fell  to  the  ground,  and 
as  the  Indians  retreated,  the  occupants  of  the  Fort  made  a  charge  upon 
them  with  their  cavalry,  and  as  many  of  the  soldiers  rode  past  the 
wounded  chief,  they  gave  him,  as  they  supposed,  the  finishing  blow. 
39 


610  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

THE  STATE  AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE. 

The  Michigan  State  Agricultural  College  was  located  under  act 
of  the  Legislature,  by  the  State  Board  of  Education,  about  the 
middle  of  the  year  1855,  on  a  piece  of  land,  purchased  for  the 
purpose,  situated  three  and  a  half  miles  directly  east  from  Lan 
sing. 

This  farm  of  676  acres  was  entirely  covered  by  forest  at  the 
time  of  purchase,  but  has  since  developed  an  excellent  diversity 
of  soil  for  farming  and  experimental  purposes,  and  sufficient  vari 
ety  of  contour  to  render  it  a  beautiful  and  attractive  place. 

Under  the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Education,  there  were 
erected  a  college  hall,  boarding  hall,  three  cottages  for  officers,  and 
a  small  barn.  These  were  all  of  brick.  The  college  was  opened 
for  students  May  13th,  1857,  with  Joseph  R.  Williams  as  presi 
dent. 

The  institution  continued  under  the  control  of  the  State  Board 

With  that  endurance  known  only  to  his  race,  he  received  these  wounds 
without  showing  the  least  sign  of  life,  not  even  uttering  a  groan.  After 
the  return  of  the  soldiers,  he  crawled  to  a  swampy  piece  of  woods  near 
by,  where  he  buried  himself  in  the  soft  soil  and  leaves,  and  there  remained 
until  the  darkness  of  night  afforded  him  a  shelter  for  escape.  Weak  from 
the  loss  of  blood  and  exhausted  by  the  strife  of  the  day,  he  mounted  a 
pony  which  was. grazing  near  by,  and  made  his  way  to  his  camp  on  the 
Maumee  river,  where  he  remained  until  his  wounds  were  healed. 

Subsequently  he  participated  in  many  of  the  Indian  depredations  on 
the  frontiers,  and  took  part  in  three  different  treaties  made  with  General 
Cass. 

Under  the  influence  of  the  Indian  agent,  Colonel  G.  Godfrey,  he  was 
induced  to  forsake  the  British  standard  and  espouse  the  cause  of  the 
Americans,  to  whom  he  remained  a  true  friend  until  his  death. 

After  the  close  of  hostilities,  with  his  band,  he  settled  on  the  Looking 
Glass  river,  near  Lansing,  Michigan,  where  now  stands  the  beautiful  vil 
lage  which  bears  his  name. 

During  his  later  days,  though  a,  beggar  and  a  constant  imbiber  of  "fire 
water,"  he  was  very  proud  of  his  name,  and  related  the  brave  deeds  of 
his  more  youthful  days  Avith  great  animation  and  pride. 

He  died  at  his  wigwam,  on  the  Looking  Glass  river,  in  1863,  leaving 
three  sons,  one  of  whom  has  since  followed  him  to  "the  happy  hunting 
grounds  far  beyond  the  setting  sun." 


614  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   STATES. 

cattle,  horse  and  sheep  barns  and  piggery,  besides  smaller  tempo 
rary  buildings  for  experiments,  implements,  etc.,  a  large  brick 
farm-house  and  a  green-house. 

The  State  Legislature,  in  1869,  appropriated  $30,000  for  the 
erection  of  the  boarding  hall,  and,  in  1871,  $10,000  for  the  chemi 
cal  laboratory.  The  Legislature  has  also  appropriated  at  different 
times  about  $12,000  for  the  finishing  of  some  of  the  buildings. 
All  other  expenditures  for  buildings  and  other  improvements  and 
repairs  have  been  met  by  sales  of  swamp  lands. 

The  total  value  of  property  at  the  college,  as  shown  by  inven 
tory,  December  1,  1872,  is  as  follows : 

Farm  of  676  acres $47,320  00 

Buildings 116,500  00 

Stock 9,387  00 

Farm  Implements 3,253  00 

the  whole  of  the  lands  of  Mackinaw,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  lay  out  a 
city  on  a  modern  scale. 

This  gigantic  speculation,  which  must  result  in  great  advantages  to 
Michigan,  brings  Mr.  Conkling  prominently  before  the  people  of  the 
State;  and  when  it  is  considered  to  what  extent  his  theory  of  establish 
ing  a  commercial  mart  at  Mackinaw — as  we  shall  proceed  to  do  in  this 
sketch — is  sound  and  practicable,  we  are  left  to  wonder  at  his  unparal 
leled  foresight  and  the  philosophy  of  his  project. 

Of  Mr.  Conkling's  personal  history  we  can  say  but  little,  since  the 
space  given  to  this  sketch  must  be  occupied  by  an  examination  into  the 
merits  of  his  great  "  Mackinaw  City  "  scheme.  He  was  the  originator  of 
the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad,  and  was  the  first  to  urge  the  con 
struction  of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  to  the  Straits  of 
Mackinaw.  It  is  only  necessary  to  observe  the  growth  of  these  enter 
prises  to  be  able  to  comprehend  the  value  of  Mr.  Conkling's  prescience 
to  the  prosperity  of  Michigan. 

In  looking  at  the  "Mackinaw  City"  project  (in  which  the  reader  is 
aided  by  the  accompanying  map),  one  is  at  once  struck  with  its  feasi 
bility.  With  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  terminating  at  the  extreme 
southern  point  of  the  northern  peninsula,  and  directly  across  the  straits 
from  Mackinaw  City,  it  is  evident  that,  by  the  aid  of  some  system  of 
ferriage,  the  great  volume  of  commerce  transported  eastward  by  that 
road  must  connect  with  railroads  in  the  southern  peninsula  of  Michigan 
at  Mackinaw  City.  This  will,  of  itself,  do  much  to  induce  population  to 
that  place,  and  to  furnish  a  basis  of  an  extensive  commercial  metropolis. 


HISTOKY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


615 


Library,  Museum  and  Apparatus $10,000  00 

Greenhouse  Plants 2,127  00 

Apiary 11600 

Furniture 3,28600 

$191,989 

The  institution  aims  to  give  its  students  a  good  practical  educa 
tion  that  shall  make  men  of  them,  and  enable  them  to  undertake 
any  occupation  they  may  find  suited  to  their  tastes. 

To  this  end  the  course  pursued  does  not  differ  much  from  that 
of  other  colleges,  except  that  the  natural  sciences  are  studied 
more  thoroughly,  and  classics  not  at  all ;  and  all  branches  bearing 
upon  agriculture,  those  which  are  of  most  use  to  farmers,  are  very 
thoroughly  investigated.  Chemistry  and  botany  are  given  nearly 
two  years  each.  Physiology,  zoology,  geology  and  entomology  are 
all  pursued  as  far  as  possible ;  and,  during  the  course,  the  stu- 

But  this  is  only  one  of  the  many  avenues  of  •wealth  that  must  in  the 
future  empty  their  treasures  at  Mackinaw  City.  The  immense  commerce 
of  the  lakes,  the  growth  of  which  has  been  unparalleled  in  the  history  of 


EDGAR  CONKLING    PROPRIETOR 


j 

.  VT^         J 


the  world,  and  the  vast  mineral,  timber  and  agricultural  resources  of 
their  shores,  which  are  even  now  only  beginning  to  attract  attention, 
may  well  awaken  a  desire  on  the  part  of  enterprise  to  get  possession  of 
the  key  position  which  is  to  command  and  unlock  the  future  wealth  of 
this  vast  empire.  Already  six  important  cities,  with  an  aggregate  popu 
lation  of  over  600,000  inhabitants,  have  sprung  up  on  these  inland  waters, 
and  are  the  most  nourishing  of  any  away  from  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Others  are  rising  into  notoriety  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Superior,  and 
must,  at  no  very  distant  period,  become  important  and  active  places  of 
business.  But,  the  place  of  all  others,  where  a  city  must  ultimately 
spring  up  and  grow  into  importance,  is  undeveloped. 

The  Toledo  Blade,  speaking  of  the  probable  future  of  Mackinaw  City, 
as  projected  by  Mr.  Conkling,  says  :     "  The  point  which  projects  north- 


616  GENERAL    HISTORY    OP   THE   STATES. 

dents  receive  a  year  of  lectures  on  practical  agriculture,  the  like 
of  which  probably  cannot  be  obtained  elsewhere  in  the  United 
States. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  institution  is  its  labor  system.  Stu 
dents  are  required  to  work  three  hours  a  day ;  and,  although  they 
are  paid  a  small  sum  per  hour,  the  labor  is  considered  a  valuable 
part  of  the  course  of  instruction.  Not  that  it  is  expected  that 
students  will  attain  proficiency  in  all  the  practices  of  the  farm,  or 
even  in  any  of  them  ;  but  the  general  influence  toward  the  enno 
bling  of  labor,  the  forming  and  keeping  up  of  habits  of  industry, 
and  the  good  eifect  upon  the  health  and  strength  of  the  students, 
all  tend  to  make  it  valuable.  Very  few  students  leave  the  college 
because  of  ill  health. 

The  pursuits  followed  by  the  graduates  show  better  than  any 
thing  else  the  general  influence  of  their  studies. 

ward  into  the  lake  from  the  Michigan  peninsula  to  form  the  strait,  is 
admirably  located  for  a  great  city.  In  health  and  commercial  position, 
it  can  have  no  rival  in  these  northern  waters.  This  point  has  been 
selected  by  Mr.  Conkling,  on  which  to  plant  the  commercial  city  of  the 
north.  It  will  hold  the  key  (jointly  with  her  sister  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  strait)  of  all  the  northern  lakes;  and  should  its  growth  be  marked 
by  energy  and  enterprise,  will  command  the  trade  of  the  greatest  mining 
region  in  the  world;  be  the  chief  depot  of  the  northern  fisheries,  the 
outlet  of  an  immense  lumber  trade,  and  the  focus  of  a  great  net-work  of 
railways,  communicating  with  tropics  on  the  south,  and  stretching  out 
its  iron  arms,  at  no  distant  day,  to  the  Atlantic  on  the  east,  and  the 
Pacific  on  the  west.  The  proposed  city  will  have  the  advantage  of  the 
most  salubrious  climate  to  be  found  in  the  temperate  zone,  and  will  be 
the  resort  of  those  seeking  health  as  well  as  those  seeking  wealth." 

We  have  no  space  to  speak  of  its  commercial  position  at  length.  It 
must  be  seen  at  a  glance  that  all  the  produce  which  flows  through 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  the  great  west,  must  sweep  by  on  its  way  to  the 
east,  and  all  the  goods  and  merchandise  of  the  east  must  be  borne  by  its 
wharves  on  their  way  to  the  west,  and  that  it  cannot  fail  to  be  a  point  which 
must  spring  at  once  into  importance.  This  grand  project  of  Mr.  Conk- 
ling's  is  growing  rapidly  in  favor.  A  good  dock  has  been  constructed, 
the  site  of  the  city  and  its  streets  surveyed,  and  such  steps  taken  as  will 
insure  its  early  settlement  and  near  prosperity.  Mr.  Conkling  has  appro 
priated  a  large  tract  of  his  land  for  the  benefit  of  a  university,  which  he 
expects  will  be  established  at  Mackinaw  City  at  an  early  day. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


617 


In  spite  of  all  assertions  of  opponents  to  the  college  that  its 
graduates  do  not  engage  in  agricultural  pursuits,  the  actual  facts 
in  the  case  are  found  to  be  as  follows : 

The  occupation  of  the  members  of  the  last  graduating  class 


HON.  JOHN  S.  BARRY. 

JOHN  S.  BARRY,  who  was  governor  of  Michigan  for  three  terms,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  Vermont,  in  1802. 

While  he  resided  in  that  State  he  acquired  a  thorough  common  school 
education. 

From  Vermont,  at  an  early  age,  he  emigrated  to  Georgia,  and  settled 
in  the  city  of  Atlanta,  where  he  remained  for  a  number  of  years,  when 
he  removed  to  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  town  of  Constantine,  at  which  place  he  resided  until  his  death. 

Mr.  Barry  was  educated  for  a  lawyer,  but  disliking  the  profession,  he 


618  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

(1872)  is  not  known.  Of  the  sixty-eight  graduates  of  the  years 
1861  to  1871  inclusive,  the  occupations  are  shown  in  the  following 
list: 

Died  in  the  army  before  engaging  in  business 2 

Farmers  and  Horticulturists 30 

Teachers  in  Colleges  and  having  charge  of  Farms  or  Horticultural 

Departments 5 

Teachers  in  Colleges  but  having  no  charge  of  Farms 3 

Students  in  Chemistry 1 

Engineers  and  Surveyors 3 

Manufacturers 1 

In  Medicine  or  Drug  Stores 6 

Lawyers 8 

Merchants,  Agents,  etc 4 

Clergymen 1 

Teachers  not  in  Colleges 4 

Total 68 

Fifty-eight  of  these  graduates  spent  four  years  at  least  at  the 
college ;  all  the  others  spent  three.  The  average  age  at  gradua 
tion  is  twenty-two  and  one-fifth  years. 

More  than  one-half  the  number  depended  in  a  large  degree, 
some  of  them  entirely,  on  their  earnings,  for  the  means  of  gaining 
an  education. 

Graduates  of  the  college  form  part  of  the  faculties  of  instruc 
tion  in  Cornell  University,  Wisconsin  University,  Minnesota  Uni- 

early  turned  his  attention  to  mercantile  pursuits,  in  which  he  was  emi 
nently  successful. 

His  first  public  office  was  that  of  a  member  of  the  first  constitutional 
convention  which  assembled  and  framed  the  constitution  upon  which 
Michigan  was  admitted  into  the  Union.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  proceedings  of  this  body,  and  showed  himself  to  be  a  man  of  far 
more  than  ordinary  ability. 

He  was  chosen  one  of  the  first  State  senators  under  the  new  State  gov 
ernment,  and  so  favorably  were  his  associates  impressed  with  his  abilities 
at  the  first  session  of  the  legislature,  that  he  received  the  nomination  and 
was  elected  governor  of  the  State  in  1841,  and  reelected  in  1842.  He 
was  governor  of  the  State  during  her  greatest  financial  difficulties,  and  it 
is  to  his  wisdom  and  sound  judgment  that  Michigan's  finances  were 
placed  upon  a  firm  basis. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  619 

versity,  Iowa  Agricultural  College,  and  Michigan  Agricultural 
College.  One  was  selected  by  Colonel  Capron  to  go  with  him  to 
Japan,  in  the  agricultural  service  of  its  Emperor.  One  gained 
the  first  Walker  Prize,  for  an  essay  on  a  topic  assigned  by  the 
Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  and  was  assistant  director  in 
an  exploring  expedition  sent  to  the  Valley  of  the  Amazon. 
Another  was  made  botanist  of  an  expedition  sent  from  a  neighbor 
ing  State  into  Western  Kansas  and  Colorado.  Another  is  the 
entomologist,  and  still  another  is  the  meteorologist  of  the  State 
Pomological  Society,  and  still  another  is  Secretary  to  the  State 
Bee  Keepers'  Association;  two  of  them  have  charge  of  divisions 
as  assistant  engineers  on  railroads ;  three  of  them  have  had  places 
on  the  editorial  staff  of  agricultural  papers ;  two  more  farmers 
have  of  their  own  accord  given  up  good  places  in  the  faculties 
of  agricultural  colleges,  and  the  clergyman  has  been  for  several 
years  the  president  of  a  farmers'  club,  whose  average  weekly 
attendance  is  over  three  hundred  persons,  and  most  of  the  lawyers 
are  not  infrequent  writers  on  the  subject  of  agricultural  education. 

THE  STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

When  the  branches  of  the  University  were  abolished,  their  loss 
was  severely  felt  throughout  the  State,  as  they  gave  a  great  deal 
of  attention  to  the  training  of  teachers.  Numerous  petitions  were 
sent  to  the  Legislature,  by  parents  and  teachers,  urgently  request 
ing  the  establishment  of  a  school  especially  devoted  to  that  object. 

In  1840,  lie  became  deeply  interested  in  the  cultivation  of  the  sugar 
beet,  and  visited  Europe  in  this  connection,  obtaining  much  desirable 
information  in  regard  to  it. 

In  1849,  Mr.  Barry  was,  for  the  third  time,  called  to  the  executive  chair 
of  the  State,  and  therefore  has  the  reputation  of  being  the  only  person 
that  ever  held  that  elevated  position  for  three  terms.  He  was  twice  a 
presidential  elector,  and  his  last  public  service  was  that  of  a  delegate  to 
the  Democratic  national  convention  held  in  Chicago  in  1864. 

Mr.  Barry  was  a  man  who,  throughout  life,  maintained  a  high  charac 
ter  for  integrity  and  fidelity  to  the  trusts  bestowed  upon  him,  whether  of 
a  public  or  a  private  nature,  and  he  is  acknowledged  by  all  to  have  been 
one  of  the  most  efficient  and  popular  governors  our  State  has  ever  had. 
He  died  at  Constantine,  on  the  15th  of  January,  1870. 


620  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Accordingly,  in  1849,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  creating  a 
normal  school.  It  was  located  at  Ypsilauti,  and  opened  in  1852. 
It  is  under  the  control  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  consisting 
of  three  members  chosen  by  the  people.  The  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  is  ex  officio  secretary  of  the  board. 

This  school  has  been  eminently  successful,  and  its  value  to  the 
State  can  hardly  be  ever  estimated.  The  demand  for  its  gradu 
ates  to  serve  as  teachers,  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  is  more 
than  can  be  supplied.  Professor  Estabrook,  the  principal,  reports 
for  the  year  1872,  an  attendance  of  about  four  hundred  pupils. 
Eleven  teachers  are  employed  to  do  the  work. 

ALBION  COLLEGE. 

Albion  College  is  located  at  Albion,  a  thriving  village  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  State.  In  1843  the  Wesleyan  Seminary 
was  opened  at  Albion.  A  few  years  later  its  charter  was  so 
amended  that  it  enjoyed  the  powers  and  immunities  of  a  female 
college.  In  1861  its  charter  was  again  amended,  and  Albion  Col 
lege  was  founded,  with  full  collegiate  powers,  admitting  both 
ladies  and  gentlemen  to  equal  privileges,  duties  and  honors. 

The  institution  is  under  the  patronage  of  the  Michigan  and 
Detroit  annual  conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
It  is  in  a  nourishing  condition,  having,  in  1872,  two  hundred  and 
sixteen  students. 

ADRIAN  COLLEGE. 

Adrian  College  is  located  at  Adrian,  a  beautiful  and  flourish 
ing  town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  State.  The  college  was 
incorporated  in  1859,  and  its  first  term  of  instruction  commenced 
the  same  year.  It  was  formerly  under  the  patronage  of  the  Wes 
leyan  Methodist  denomination,  but,  in  1867,  was  transferred  to 
the  Methodist  Church.  It  is,  however,  based  upon  a  liberal 
policy,  and  its  board  of  trustees  and  faculty  are  chosen  solely 
with  reference  to  their  fitness  for  their  respective  positions,  and 
without  reference  to  whether  they  belong  to  that  particular 
religious  denomination.  Its  departments  of  instruction  are  open 
to  both  sexes,  and  include  thorough  classical  and  scientific 
courses.  Commercial  studies,  teaching,  painting  and  music  are 


flISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


621 


also  included  in  the  course  of  instruction.  Its  buildings  are 
handsome  and  spacious,  and  are  all  that  could  be  desired  for  a 
first-class  institution. 


HON.  MOSES  WISNER. 

MOSES  WISNER,  governor  of  the  State  of  Michigan  in  1859  and  I860, 
was  born  in  Springport,  Cayuga  county,  New  York,  June  3,  1815. 

His  early  education  was  only  such  as  could  be  obtained  at  a  common 
school,  and  embraced  such  branches  as  are  taught  to  the  sons  of  farmers 
and  others  in  moderate  circumstances. 

In  1837  he  emigrated  to  Michigan  and  purchased  a  farm  in  Lapeer 
county,  upon  which  he  labored  for  two  years,  when  he  gave  up  the  idea 
of  living  a  farmer's  life,  removed  to  Pontiac,  Oakland  county,  and  com 
menced  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  George  W.  Wisner, 


622  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

KALAMAZOO  COLLEGE. 

Kalamazoo  College  embraces  several  departments,  each,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  distinct  from  the  others.  It  embraces  a 
college  proper,  designed  to  furnish  instruction  to  young  men  in 
a  course  of  .study  similar  to  that  adopted  in  the  best  institu 
tions  of  other  States.  It  also  embraces  a  female  department, 
with  a  four  years  course,  including  all  the  higher  branches  usu 
ally  taught  in  colleges  of  this  class.  There  is  also  a  prepara 
tory  department,  open  to  the  youth  of  both  sexes.  There  is 
also  a  commercial  department,  designed  to  fit  students  for  any 
situation  in  commercial  life.  There  is  also  a  normal  depart 
ment  for  the  training  of  those  who  desire  to  teach. 

This  college  was  chartered  in  1833,  and  the  first  building 
erected  was  burned  in  1844.  The  present  buildings  are  fine 
and  costly  edifices,  and  beautifully  situated.  The  village  of 
Kalamazoo  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  healthful  towns  in 
America.  It  contains  about  ten  thousand  inhabitants,  and  is 
known  as  the  "  big  village  "  of  Michigan.  In  1872  there  were, 
in  all  the  departments,  207  students. 

HILLSDALE   COLLEGE. 

Hillsdale  College  is  located  at  the  flourishing  town  whose 
name  it  bears.  It  is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Free-will 

and  Rufus  Hosmer.  In  1841  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  established 
himself  in  his  new  vocation  at  the  village  of  Lapeer.  While  here  he 
was  appointed  by  Governor  Woodbridge  prosecuting  attorney  for  that 
county.  He  did  not  remain  here  long,  however,  but  shortly  returned  to 
Pontiac,  where  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  with  his  brother. 

He  was  in  politics  a  Whig  of  the  Henry  Clay  stamp,  but  with  a  decided 
anti-slavery  leaning.  His  practice,  however,  becoming  large,  he  took 
little  part  in  politics  until  after  the  election  of  Franklin  Pierce  to  the 
presidency  in  1852.  In  the  great  struggle  respecting  the  freedom  of  the 
territory  acquired  by  the  Mexican  war,  he  took  a  decided  stand  against 
the  introduction  of  slavery  into  it. 

On  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  act  of  1854,  repealing  the  Mis 
souri  Compromise,  he  was  among  the  foremost  in  Michigan  to  denounce 
it,  and  actively  participated  in  organizing  and  consolidating  the  elements 
opposed  to  it,  and  was  a  member  of  the  popular  gathering  at  Jackson  in 
July,  1854,  which  was  the  first  formal  Republican  gathering  held  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  623 

Baptist  Church.  Its  buildings  are  spacious  and  handsome,  and 
the  institution  bears  a  brilliant  reputation.  Both  sexes  are 
admitted  on  equal  terms.  In  addition  to  the  college  proper  there 
are  preparatory  departments  for  both  ladies  and  gentlemen;  a 
theological  department,  a  commercial  department,  a  department 
of  music,  and  a  department  of  art.  In  1872  there  were  606  stu 
dents  in  attendance  in  all  the  departments. 

OLIVET   COLLEGE. 

Olivet  College  is  situated  in  the  flourishing  town  of  Olivet,  and 
is  one  of  the  leading  denominational  institutions  of  the  State. 
It  is  under  the  patronage  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Stu 
dents  are  admitted  to  this  college  without  regard  to  sex.  Besides 
the  college  proper  there  is  a  preparatory  department,  to  which 
a  normal  course  has  been  added  within  the  last  two  years,  and 
a  professorship  of  the  theory  and  practice  of  teaching  established. 
The  college  library  numbers  over  four  thousand  volumes,  and 
about  $400  per  annum  is  expended  in  the  increase  of  the  library, 
and  in  the  support  of  the  reading  room,  in  which  are  found  the 
leading  magazines  and  newspapers  of  the  day.  The  number  of 
students  in  attendance,  during  the  year  1872,  was  307.  Of  these 
124  were  ladies  and  183  were  gentlemen. 

United  States.  At  this  convention  Mr.  Wisner  was  urged  to  accept  the 
nomination  of  attorney-general,  but  declined.  He,  however,  took  an 
active  part  in  the  campaign,  and  had  the  gratification  to  see  the  whole 
Kepulican  ticket  elected  by  a  majority  of  nearly  ten  thousand. 

In  the  presidential  canvass  of  1856  he  supported  the  Fremont  or  Repub 
lican  ticket,  and  at  the  session  of  the  legislature  of  1857  he  was  a  candi 
date  for  the  United  States  senate,  and  as  such  received  a  very  handsome 
support. 

In  1858  he  was  nominated  for  governor  of  the  State  by  the  Republican 
convention,  and  at  the  subsequent  election  in  November  was  chosen  by  a 
large  majority.  He  served  in  this  capacity  for  one  term,  and  his  adminis 
tration  was  marked  by  a  high  statesmanship  and  by  a  large  number  of 
internal  improvements  which  greatly  aided  in  the  development  of  the 
resources  of  the  State.  With  the  close  of  his  term  in  January,  1861,  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Pontiac  and  to  the  practice  of  his  profession. 

Upon  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  arranged  his  private  business, 


624  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  are  several  colleges  in  dif 
ferent  parts  of  the  State,  of  more  or  less  importance,  prominent 
among  which  are  the  Hope  College  of  Holland,  and  the  Michi 
gan  Female  College  at  Lansing.  Another  institution  of  great 
importance  to  the  State,  is 

THE  STATE  REFORM  SCHOOL. 

This  School  was  established  at  Lansing,  in  1856,  and  is  designed 
to  afford  homeless  boys  an  opportunity  to  escape  from  a  career 
of  crime  which  would  otherwise  await  them,  and  to  afford  such 
instruction  as  will  enable  them,  upon  leaving  the  school,  to 
obtain  an  honest  livelihood.  It  occupies  a  beautiful  building, 
which  overlooks  the  Grand  river,  at  Lansing.  The  pupils  are 
chiefly  employed  in  farming  and  gardening;  but  a  portion  of 
them  work  at  various  trades.  All  the  branches  of  a  common 
school  education  are  taught.  A  chapel  is  attached  to  the  school, 
and  everything  is  done  to  elevate  and  reform  its  inmates. 

STATE  PUBLIC   SCHOOL. 

In  1871  the  State  Legislature  passed  an  act  to  establish  a 
State  public  school  for  dependent  and  neglected  children.  The 
act  provided  for  the  appointment,  by  the  Governor,  of  three  com- 

and  in  the  spring  and  summer  of  1862  raised  the  Twenty-second  Regi 
ment  of  Michigan  Infantry  and  was  commissioned  its  Colonel  on  the  8th 
of  September  of  that  year.  His  regiment  was  sent  to  Kentucky  and 
quartered  at  Camp  Wallace.  Remaining  here  some  time  he  became 
impatient  at  the  delay,  and  this  and  the  hardships  of  camp  life  soon 
made  their  influence  felt  upon  his  health,  and  he  was  seized  with  the 
typhoid  fever  and  removed  to  Lexington  in  that  State.  Here  he  received 
all  the  aid  kind  friends  and  the  medical  fraternity  could  bestow  upon 
him,  but  the  malady  baffled  all  skill,  and  on  the  5th  of  January,  1863,  he 
breathed  his  last. 

As  a  lawyer  Governor  Wisner  was  a  man  of  great  ability,  with  an 
intrepidity  and  richness  of  illustration  and  a  power  of  argument  that 
rendered  him  a  most  formidable  opponent  His  eloquence  was  at  once 
graceful  and  powerful,  and  his  logic  was  irresistible. 

He  was  kind;  he  was  generous  and  brave;  and,  like  thousands  of 
others,  he  sleeps  the  martyr's  sleep  which  his  love  of  country  cost  him. 


HISTORY  OF   MICHIGAN. 


625 


missioners  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  a  suitable  site,  and  erecting 
buildings  thereon,  for  this  school.  The  Governor  appointed  a 
commission  in  pursuance  of  this  law,  and  the  beautiful  and  flour 
ishing  city  of  Coldwater  was  selected  as  the  site  for  the  school. 


HON.  E.  RANSOM. 

EPAPHRODITUS  RANSOM,  the  seventh  governor  of  the  State  of  Michi 
gan,  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts.  In  that  State  he  received  a  colle 
giate  education,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

Removing  to  Michigan  about  the  time  of  its  admission  to  the  Union,  he 
took  up  his  residence  at  Kalamazoo. 

Mr.  Ransom  served  with  marked  ability  for  a  number  of  years  in  the 
State  legislature,  and  in  1837  he  was  appointed  associate  justice  of  the 
supreme  court.     In  1843  he  was  promoted  to  chief  justice,  which  office 
he  retained  until  1845,  when  he  resigned. 
40 


626  GENERAL   msTORY   OF   THE  STATES* 

The  act  provides  that  there  shall  be  received  as  pupils  in  this 
school,  those  children  that  are  over  four  and  under  sixteen  years 
of  age,  that  are  in  suitable  condition  in  body  and  mind  to  receive 
instruction,  who  are  neglected  and  dependent,  especially  those 
who  are  now  maintained  in  the  county  poor  houses,  those  who 
have  been  abandoned  by  their  parents,  or  are  orphans,  or  whose 
parents  have  been  convicted  of  crime.  The  children  in  the  school 
are  to  be  maintained,  and  educated  in  the  branches  usually 
taught  in  common  schools,  and  are  to  have  proper  physical  and 
moral  training.  It  is  declared  to  be  the  object  of  this  act  to 
provide  for  such  children  only  temporary  homes,  until  homes  can 
be  procured  for  them  in  families.  Preference  is  given  to  depend 
ent  and  indigent  orphans,  or  half  orphans,  of  deceased  soldiers 
and  sailors  of  this  State. 

MICHIGAN  ASYLUM  FOR  THE  DEAF,  DUMB  AND  BLIND. 

A  review  of  the  educational  institutions  of  Michigan  would 
not  be  complete  without  the  mention  of  the  above  named  benevo 
lent  institution.  It  is  located  at  Flint,  one  of  the  most  enter 
prising  and  flourishing  cities  in  the  State.  Operations  were  begun 
in  this  institution  in  1854.  It  has  a  large  number  of  inmates, 
who  are  taught  to  manufacture  wagons,  paper  boxes,  and  to 
weave  carpets,  mats,  etc.  They  are  also  taught  to  read  and 
write,  and  are  enabled  to  acquire  a  liberal  education.  The  asy- 

Shortly  afterwards  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the  building  of 
plank  roads  in  the  western  portion  of  the  State,  and  in  this  business  lost 
the  greater  portion  of  the  property  which  he  had  accumulated  by  years 
of  toil  and  industry. 

Mr.  Ransom  became  governor  of  the  State  of  Michigan  in  the  fall  of 
1847,  and  served  during  one  term,  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  in 
a  truly  statesmanlike  manner.  He  subsequently  became  president  of  the 
Michigan  agricultural  society,  in  which  position  he  displayed  the  same 
ability  that  shone  forth  so  prominently  in  his  acts  as  governor.  He  held 
the  office  of  regent  of  the  Michigan  University  several  times,  and  ever 
advocated  a  liberal  policy  in  its  management. 

Subsequently  he  was  appointed  receiver  of  the  land  office  in  one  of  the 
districts  in  Kansas,  by  President  Buchanan,  to  which  State  he  had 
removed,  and  where  he  died  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office. 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  627 

lum  is  free  to  all  the  deaf  and  dumb  and  blind  in  Michigan, 
between  the  ages  of  ten  and  thirty  years.  All  are  entitled  to  an 
education  without  charge  for  board  or  tuition. 

MICHIGAN  FEMALE  SEMINARY. 

The  "  Michigan  Female  Seminary,"  located  at  Kalamazoo,  was 
organized  by  the  adoption  of  its  "  articles  of  association,"  consti 
tuting  it  a  corporation,  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  December,  A.  D. 
1856.  The  powers  of  the  association  were  vested  in  twenty-one 
trustees.  An  executive  committee  of  five  act  for  the  board  in  the 
interim  between  its  meetings,  with  powers  to  carry  out  the  instruc 
tions  and  resolutions  of  the  board. 


MICHIGAN  FEMALE   SEMINARY. 

The  Board  of  Trustees  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  in  their 
own  body,  subject  to  the  ratification  of  the  Synod  of  Michigan. 
To  guard  against  any  strictly  sectarian  influence  in  the  manage 
ment  and  teachings  of  the  seminary,  its  charter  provides  that, 
"  religiously  considered,  the  board  of  trustees  shall  secure  the 
inculcation  of  a  pure  Christianity,  without  any  preference  what 
ever  to  any  particular  church,  form  or  practice." 

During  the  year  1836,  the  exterior  walls  of  the  center  part  of 
the  seminary  were  erected  and  inclosed,  but  the  building  remained 
unfinished  until  the  fall  of  1866.  It  was  then  finished  and  fur 
nished,  and  now  has  accommodations  for  seventy-five  pupils,  and 
the  proper  number  of  teachers. 


628  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

As  expressed  in  the  charter,  the  intent  was  "  to  establish, 
endow  and  control  a  seminary  of  learning,  for  the  education  of 
young  ladies  in  the  higher  branches  of  a  thorough  education, 
having  reference  to  the  entire  person,  physically,  intellectually, 
morally  and  religiously  considered,  and  to  be  essentially  modeled 
after  the  Mt.  Holyoke  Seminary,  in  Massachusetts,  founded  by 
Mary  Lyon,  and  the  Western  Female  Seminary,  at  Oxford." 

THE  DETROIT  MEDICAL  COLLEGE. 

The  Detroit  Medical  College  is  one  of  the  most  important  insti 
tutions  of  the  kind  in  the  country.  It  has  been  established 
about  five  years  only,  but  during  that  time  it  has  secured  for  itself 
an  enviable  reputation. 

In  estimating  the  work  of  this  institution,  it  must  be  regarded 
not  only  in  its  character  as  an  institution  of  learning,  but  also  in 
that  of  a  public  charity. 

Since  its  establishment,  in  1868,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  stu 
dents  have  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  No  one  is  permitted  to 
graduate  from  this  institution  who  has  not  fulfilled  all  the  follow 
ing  requirements : 

Evidences  are  required  of  having  studied  medicine  during 
a  period  of  three  years,  and  attended  at  least  two  courses  of 
lectures,  of  which  the  last  must  have  been  in  this  institution. 
He  must  also  have  attended  clinical  instruction  for  one  term,  have 
dissected  every  part  of  the  cadaver,  and  have  taken  a  course  of 
analytical  chemistry  in  the  laboratory.  These  are  not  required 
on  graduation,  but  every  candidate  for  a  degree  must  write  two 
essays  on  subjects  assigned  to  him.  These  essays  will  have  to  be 
defended  publicly.  Finally,  he  will  be  required  to  pass  a  satisfac 
tory  written  and  oral  examination  in  all  the  fundamental  branches 
in  medicine  and  surgery. 

Especial  attention  is  given  in  this  institution  to  the  method 
of  clinical  teaching  which  prevails  in  the  medical  colleges  of 
Germany,  and  which  has  hitherto  been  almost  completely  neglected 
by  those  of  the  United  States.  The  hospitals  connected  with  the 
college  supply  a  large  number  of  cases  for  this  mode  of  instruc 
tion;  and  it  is  in  this  that  the  institution  is  to  be  regarded  in  the 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


629 


light  of  a  public  charity.  It  has  been  a  source  of  relief  to  thou 
sands  of  the  city  and  country  poor.  There  have  been  maintained 
at  the  expense  of  the  college  two  dispensaries,  at  which  the  poor 
can  obtain,  daily  (except  Sundays),  medical  and  surgical  relief 


HON.  WM.  WOODBRIDGE. 

WILLIAM  WOODBHIDGE,  the  second  governor  of  Michigan,  and  a  man 
thoroughly  identified  with  its  history  for  thirty-five  years,  was  born  in 
Norwich,  Connecticut,  August  20,  1780. 

He  received  his  early  education  in  his  native  State,  studied  law  in 
Litchfield,  in  that  State,  and  with  his  father  emigrated  to  the  Northwest 
territory  in  1791,  settling  in  Marietta,  Ohio. 

In  1806,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  in  Ohio,  and  in  the  following 
year  was  elected  to  the  assembly  of  that  State.  From  1808  until  1814  he 


630  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

free  of  charge.  During  the  year  1872  there  were  1,335  patients 
treated  at  these  dispensaries  ;  8,280  prescriptions  were  prepared  and 
dispensed  gratuitously  ;  and  over  two  thousand  persons  were  vac 
cinated.  A  large  number  of  surgical  operations  are  performed 
every  year,  before  the  class,  on  hospital  and  dispensary  patients. 

THE  DETROIT  HOMEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 

This  institution  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1871,  and  opened 
for  the  first  course  of  lectures  early  in  March  following.  At  the 
end  of  the  term  nineteen  were  graduated.  The  whole  number 
of  students  in  attendance  was  thirty-two. 

The  second  session  began  November  6th,  1872,  and  ended  the 
last  of  February,  1873.  The  attendance  of  students  numbered 
fifty-one,  and  there  were  twenty  graduates,  three  of  whom  were 
ladies.  It  is  a  feature  of  this  institution  to  give  to  women  all  its 
privileges. 

was  prosecuting  attorney  of  his  county  and  also  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
State  senate.  During  the  latter  year,  without  solicitation,  he  received 
the  appointment  of  secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  from  Presi 
dent  Madison,  and  removed  to  Detroit  and  entered  upon  the  performance 
of  the  duties  of  his  new  office.  He  was  elected  the  first  delegate  to  Con 
gress  from  Michigan,  in  1819,  and  forwarded  the  interests  of  his  con 
stituents  in  a  manner  to  elicit  the  warmest  approbation.  He  was 
appointed  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  the  Territory  in  1828,  and 
performed  the  duties  of  that  office  four  years.  He  was  one  of  the  mem 
bers  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  State  constitution  in  1835,  and 
was  elected  a  State  senator  under  it  in  1837.  He  was  chosen  to  succeed 
Stevens  T.  Mason  as  governor  of  the  State  in  1839,  and  served  during 
one  term.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  as  governor,  he  was 
elected  a  United  States  senator,  and  served  in  that  capacity  from  1841 
until  1847.  While  in  the  senate,  he  took  a  leading  part  in  much  of  the 
important  legislation  of  that  body,  both  as  a  member  of  a  number  of  the 
principle  committees  and  also  as  a  debater  on  the  floor  of  the  senate. 

His  last  days  were  spent  in  retirement  in  Detroit,  where  he  died, 
October  20,  1861. 

Governor  Woodbridge  was  an  eminent  jurist  and  constitutional  lawyer, 
and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  and  most  distinguished  mem 
ber  of  the  Detroit  bar.  He  was  a  man  of  true  principle  and  honor,  who 
had  served  the  public  for  many  years  with  fidelity  and  integrity,  and 
who  died  leaving  to  his  children  an  unblemished  name. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


631 


The  third  session  began  October  15th,  1873,  with  fifty  students, 
and  more  daily  coming  in.  The  term  is  expected  to  close  about 
March  1st,  1874. 

The  faculty,  or  corps  of  instructors,  is  complete  in  all  depart 
ments,  and  the  college  is  claimed  to  rank  with  any  similar  insti 
tution  in  this  country.  The  president  of  the  college,  particularly, 
is  a  gentleman  of  large  experience  as  a  practical  physician  and  as 
an  instructor. 


THE  DETROIT  HOMEOPATHIC  COLLEGE. 

The  Detroit  Homeopathic  College  was  organized  with  the  appro 
val  of  the  Board  of  Regents  of  the  Uni versity  of  Michigan,  for 
its  becoming  a  branch  of  the  University,  and  it  is  hoped  that  this 
result  will  be  brought  about,  and  thus  the  difficulty  which  has 
attended  the  attempt  to  introduce  homeopathic  professors  into  the 
allopathic  department  at  Ann  Arbor  be  amicably  resolved.  This 
is  the  wish  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  profession  in  the  State, 
and  seems  to  meet  the  wishes  of  those  who  have  the  University  in 
charge.  So  far,  it  must  be  confessed,  the  enterprise  is  attended 


632  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

with  complete  success,  and  its  founders  are  uuited  in  pushing  it 
to  the  front  rank  of  medical  colleges.  The  fees  are  the  same  as 
are  charged  students  in  the  University.  Thus,  to  those  who  are 
residents  of  the  State,  $20  ;  to  those  from  other  States  $35. 

The  college  building  is  situated  in  Detroit,  at  the  corner  of 
Woodward  avenue  and  the  Campus  Martius,  and  adjoining  the 
Opera  House.  It  is  very  convenient  of  access,  being  in  the  very 
center  of  the  city. 

The  following  are  the  officers  and  faculty  of  the  college  :  Presi 
dent,  Lancelot  Younghusband,  M.  D.,  LL.  D. ;  Treasurer,  Thomas 
W.  Palmer,  Esq. ;  Secretary,  Erastus  R.  Ellis,  M.  D.  Faculty— 
L.  Younghusband,  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Emeritus  Professor  of  Theory 
and  Practice ;  Benjamin  F.  Bailey,  Jr.,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Theory 
and  Practice  of  Medicine;  Charles  H.  B.  Kellogg,  M.  D.,  Pro 
fessor  of  Obstetrics  and  Diseases  of  Women  and  Children ;  James 
H.  P.  Frost,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Special  Lecturer  on  Psychological  Med 
icine;  Erastus  R.  Ellis,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Principles  and  Prac 
tice  of  Surgery;  Isaiah  Dever,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Materia  Medica; 
Francis  X.  Spranger,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Pathology,  Diagnosis  and 
Clinical  Practice ;  Oscar  R.  Long,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Anatomy ; 
John  D.  Kergan,  A.  B.,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Physiology ;  William 
C.  Clemo,  M.  D.,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Botany;  William  B. 
Silber,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  Ph.  D.,  Lecturer  on  Medical  Jurisprudence. 

The  history  of  the  educational  institutions  of  Michigan  would 
not  be  complete  without  a  more  than  passing  notice  of  'the  busi 
ness  colleges.  These  have  within  a  few  years  grown  into  consid 
erable  importance,  and  filling,  as  they  do,  a  peculiar  vacancy  in 
the  chain  of  educational  agencies  in  the  State,  should  be  regarded 
as  constituting  a  very  valuable  means  of  promoting  the  success 
and  prosperity  of  mankind.  The  importance  of  sound  business 
colleges  is  seen  and  recognized  the  world  over.  The  theme  of 
actual  business  practice  engages  the  attention  of  the  best  mathe 
matical  minds  in  the  country.  It  is  true  that  this  class  of  educa 
tional  institutions  are  yet  in  their  infancy,  but  it  is  also  true  that 
even  now  their  utility  is  so  far  recognized  by  the  business  com 
munity  that  the  graduates  of  these  institutions  are  placed  in  the 
highest  places  as  accountants  in  the  commercial  arena  of  America. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


633 


Upon  this  department  of  education,  more  than  all  others,  falls 

the  labor  of  teaching  the  language  and  import  of  business  and 

commerce,  through  whose  channels  all  nations  and  tongues  find 
intercourse. 


HON.  O.  D.  CONGER. 

OMAR  D.  CONGER  was  born  in  Cooperstown,  New  York,  in  1818.  His 
father  was  a  clergyman,  with  whom,  in  1824,  he  removed  to  Huron 
county,  Ohio.  He  pursued  his  preparatory  studies  at  Huron  Institute, 
Milan,  Ohio,  and  graduated  at  Western  Reserve  College  in  1842.  From 
1845  to  1847  he  was  employed  in  the  geological  survey  and  mineral 
explorations  of  the  Lake  Superior  copper  and  iron  regions.  Having 
studied  law,  Mr.  Conger,  in  1848,  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profes 
sion  at  Port  Huron,  Michigan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1850,  he 
was  elected  a  judge  of  the  St.  Clair  county  court.  He  was  a  senator  in 
the  Michigan  legislature  for  the  biennial  terms  of  1855,  1857  and  1859, 


634  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

GOLDSMITH'S  BRYANT  &  STRATTON  UNIVERSITY. 

This  institution  is  located  at  Detroit,  near  the  post-office,  and  is 
presided  over  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Goldsmith,  a  gentleman  who  has  had 
a  life-long  ^experience  in  this  department  of  education.  It  was 
established  in  1857,  by  the  present  proprietor,  as  one  of  the  Bry 
ant  and  Stratton  chain  of  colleges,  and  bore  the  name  of  Bryant, 
Stratton  and  Goldsmith's  Business  College.  It  bore  this  name 
until  1869,  when  the  last  named  gentleman  purchased  the  interest 
of  his  partners,  and  became  sole  proprietor.  It  may  be  proper 
here  to  remark  that  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Stratton,  which 
occurred  about  this  time,  a  change  in  the  proprietorship  of  all  the 
Bryant  and  Stratton  colleges  took  place,  the  resident  partner  in 
each  purchasing  the  interest  of  Bryant  and  Stratton.  In  order  to 
perpetuate  the  benefits  of  the  chain  scholarship,  uniformity  of  text 
books,  etc.,  the  International  Business  College  Association  was 
organized,  which  includes  a  majority  of  the  Bryant  and  Stratton 
institutions,  as  well  as  a  number  of  other  commercial  institutions 
in  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Of  this  association  the  college 

and  in  the  last  term  was  elected  president  pro  tempo-re  of  the  senate.  In 
1867,  he  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  of  Michigan. 
In  1868,  he  was  elected  a  representative  from  Michigan  to  the  Forty-first 
Congress  as  a  Republican,  receiving  16,347  votes,  against  14,623  for  Hon. 
Byron  G.  Stout,  the  Democratic  nominee.  In  1870,  he  was  reflected  to 
the  Forty-second  Congress  over  the  same  competitor,  and  in  1872,  he  was 
elected  to  the  Forty-third  Congress  by  a  majority  of  between  four  and 
five  thousand. 

On  taking  his  seat  in  the  Forty-first  Congress,  Mr.  Conger  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  committee  on  commerce,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
legislation.  He  frequently  addressed  the  house,  chiefly  on  subjects 
referred  to  or  reported  from  the  committee  on  commerce.  The  propriety 
of  his  appointment  to  this  committee  is  evident  from  the  important  com 
mercial  interest  of  his  own  district,  in  which  it  is  surpassed  by  no  other 
portion  of  the  Union  not  on  the  sea-board,  lying  as  it  docs  immediately 
on  the  route  of  the  great  inland  lake  trade. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  speech  delivered  by  Mr.  Conger  in 
the  house  of  representatives,  June  13,  1870,  on  the  bill  for  river  and  har 
bor  appropriations,  which  aptly  illustrates  the  deep  interest  he  takes  in 
the  welfare  of  his  district: 

"In  closing  these  remarks,  Mr.  Speaker,  I  invoke  the  attention  of  this 


GOLDSMITH'S  BRYANT  &  STRATTON  BUSINESS  COLLEGE. 


636  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

under  consideration  became  a  member ;  and  it  has  since  pursued 
a  career  of  continual  progress,  keeping,  pace  with  the  most 
advanced  principles  and  theories  of  business.  It  has  a  board  of 
trade,  college,  bank,  and  mercantile  houses  of  all  kinds.  In  each 
of  these  all  of  the  formalities  of  actual  business  transactions  are 
regularly  gone  through  with  by  the  students.  The  regular  weekly 
law  lectures  are  another  important  feature  of  this  institution. 

MAYHEW  BUSINESS  COLLEGE. 

This  institution,  situated  on  the  corner  of  Congress  and  Ran 
dolph  streets,  Detroit,  was  established  in  Albion,  in  1860,  and 
removed  to  Detroit  in  1869.  Its  founder,  the  Hon.  Ira  Mayhew, 
had  had  large  experience  as  a  teacher,  had  written  valuable  works 
on  education,  had  been  two  years  county  superintendent  of  schools 
in  New  York,  and  eight  years  superintendent  of  public  instruc 
tion  in  Michigan,  and  was,  therefore,  well  prepared  for  the  suc 
cessful  management  of  such  an  institution. 

Professor  Mayhew  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  the 

house  and  the  country  to  the  great  historical  fact  that  appears  in  all  the 
traditions  of  the  human  race,  shines  through  every  page  of  history, 
through  every  period  of  human  greatness,  through  the  rise  and  fall  of 
empires,  through  all  the  long  successions  of  national  growth  and  decay, 
that  whatever  people  controlled  the  commerce  of  the  world  controlled 
the  world  itself  ;  and  this,  too,  whether  their  municipal  power  extended 
over  vast  realms  of  sea  and  land,  or  was  confined  to  a  single  city  or  cir 
cumscribed  island. 

"To  our  legislation,  in  part,  is  committed  the  duty  of  realizing  the 
lessons  of  history,  and  asserting  the  supremacy  of  our  national  com 
merce. 

"Athough  the  task  is  difficult,  the  consummation  will  be  glorious. 
Over  what  a  world  of  waters  do  our  laws  extend!  For  what  vast  high 
ways  of  commerce  within  our  own  borders  must  we  legislate! 

"  From  the  Kennebunk  to  the  Rio  Grande,  along  the  thousand  miles  of 
coast  line  we  front  the  Atlantic  and  woo  the  traffic  of  the  East.  From 
San  Diego  to  Behring's  Straits  we  welcome  across  the  calm  Pacific  '  the 
treasures  of  Cathay  and  farthest  Inde!' 

"  Between  the  two  oceans  what  magnificent  inland  seas!  What  vast 
interlacing  rivers!  on  which  ten  thousand  vessels  are  wafted  by  the  winds 
of  heaven,  or  driven  by  the  energy  of  steam,  as  they  bear  onward  the 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  637 

establishment  of  a  superior  business  college,  worthy  of  his  reputa 
tion  as  a  teacher,  an  author,  and  a  school  officer.  Early  in  the 
late  war  his  partner  entered  the  army,  and  remained  until  its 
close.  Prof.  Mayhew,  during  this  time,  conducted  his  business 
college,  and  for  three  years  officiated  as  collector  of  internal  reve 
nue  for  the  third  district  of  Michigan,  in  which  he  at  that  time 
resided.  With  several  years  of  experience  in  conducting  a  busi 
ness  college,  in  which  his  practical  book-keeping,  first  published 
in  1851,  was  used  as  a  text-book,  he  found  it  desirable  to  employ 
a  fuller  and  more  complete  treatise.  This  led  to  the  preparation 
of  Mayhew's  University  Book-keeping,  which  was  published  in 
1868,  and  which  is  regarded  as  a  very  superior  work.  A  most 
valuable  business  practice,  employing  money  and  business  papers 
in  the  great  number  and  variety  required  for  reducing  to  actual 
practice  the  sets  of  Mayhew's  University  Book-keeping,  was  soon 
prepared,  which  added  greatly  to  its  efficiency  as  a  text-book  for 
business  colleges.  Institutions  using  it  became  strongly  attached 
to  it,  and  urged  upon  its  author  the  formation  of  an  association  to 
be  known  as  the  Mayhew  Business  College  Association. 

accumulated  wealth  and  vast  commerce  of  modern  civilization;  where 
these  are  wanting,  through  the  great  forests,  across  the  prairies,  and  over 
the  mountain  ranges,  the  iron  track  and  the  tireless  engine  must  supply 
the  necessities  of  travel  and  compensate  the  lack  of  navigation,  and 
furnish  to  all  these  vast  regions  of  our  country  the  modern  highways 
which  human  genius  has  devised  to  supplement  the  deficiencies  of  nature 
and  equalize  the  conditions  of  locality." 

In  the  Forty- second  Congress,  Mr.  Conger  was  again  assigned  a  posi 
tion  on  the  committee  on  commerce  of  the  house,  and  frequently  addressed 
that  body  on  the  important  questions  brought  before  it  for  legislation. 

In  the  Forty-third  Congress,  Mr.  Conger  is  third  on  the  committee  on 
commerce,  and  chairman  of  the  committee  on  patents,  and  is  acknowl 
edged  to  be  one  of  the  ablest  representatives  from  his  State. 

On  the  4th  of  July,  1871,  Mr.  Conger  delivered  an  oration  in  Port 
Huron,  from  which  we  give  a  few  extracts,  both  as  illustrating  his  popu 
lar  style  of  eloquence,  and  as  giving  an  interesting  view  of  the  commercial 
importance  of  his  district : 

"  What  thronging  memories  of  the  past  crowd  upon  us  to-day.  The 
scenery  around  us  is  all  eloquent  of  our  national  growth.  On  the  very 
spot  where  we  now  stand  was  planted  the  first  settlement  of  white  men 


638  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  TfiE   STATES. 

This  was  accordingly  done,  and  the  institution,  and  its  patrons, 
now  enjoy  whatever  of  advantage  there  is  to  be  derived  from  the 
cooperation  of  first-class  institutions,  situated  in  different  parts  of 
the  country. 

Students  in  this  institution  receive  a  thorough  course  of  instruc 
tion,  beginning  with  the  rudimentary  principles  of  business  and 
of  keeping  accounts,  after  which  they  are  instructed  in  the  differ 
ent  forms  of  accounts,  business  correspondence,  commercial  papers, 
commercial  calculations,  the  philosophy  and  morals  of  business, 
and  in  relation  to  the  organization  and  management  of  the  differ 
ent  kinds  of  banks.  After  this  preliminary  training  has  been 
gone  through  with,  instruction  is  given  in  double-entry  book 
keeping,  and  in  the  manner  of  opening  and  closing  of  books. 
A  number  of  carefully  graded  sets  of  examples  for  practice  are 
worked  by  the  student,  each  set  embracing  a  large  number  and 
variety  of  transactions.  The  elements  of  commercial  law  receive 
proper  attention  throughout  the  course. 

on  the  lower  peninsula  of  Michigan.  Before  the  Griffin  floated  on  these 
waters — before  Detroit  was  discovered  or  settled — the  gallant  Du  Lhut, 
with  his  coureurs  des  bois,  had  traversed  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Huron 
from  the  Ottawa  route,  and  crossing  from  the  low  point  that  guards  the 
foot  of  Lake  Huron,  which  was  then  an  island,  he  erected  on  this  mound 
Fort  St.  Joseph,  and  for  more  than  two  years  held  encampment  near 
where  we  stand,  with  the  beautiful  St.  Clair  before  him,  the  River  Dulude 
(named  after  him,  as  you  find  it  in  the  older  maps)  in  his  rear,  and  Lake 
Huron  sleeping  in  solitary  grandeur  within  the  range  of  his  vision. 

"  To  the  adventurous  Frenchman  and  his  band  of  military  hunters,  and 
to  his  companion,  the  learned  and  devoted  priest,  who  shared  his  perils 
and  recorded  'his  discoveries,  all  around  was  the  grandeur  of  solitude, 
the  mysterious  voices  of  the  unexplored  wilderness,  and  the  flood  of 
waters  rushing  to  an  unknown  bourne.  Then  they  were  the  only  Chris- 
tain  inhabitants  of  Michigan.  To-day  we  number  a  million  and  a  quarter 
of  souls.  Then  his  few  frail  boats  were  all  that  dotted  the  face  of  the 
lake  or  river.  To-day  the  rushing  of  steam,  the  splashing  wheels,  the 
white-winged  vessels,  the  car-laden  barge,  the  graceful  yacht,  all  the 
living,  moving  panorama  of  water  life,  spreads  before  you,  awakening 
the  delightful  consciousness  of  the  prosperity  and  glory  of  our  beloved 
land,  and  gratifying  your  taste  with  glimpses  of  scenery  unsurpassed  in 
its  quiet  beauty  and  loveliness  in  any  land  under  the  sun." 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  639 

This  closes  our  review  of  the  educational  institutions  of  Michi 
gan.  The  public  schools  of  the  State  are  free  to  all  pupils  within 
the  limits  of  the  district,  so  that  poverty  is  no  bar  to  the  acquire 
ment  of  a  good  common  school  education.  Within  the  last  few 
years  a  system  of  compulsory  education  has  been  adopted,  making 
it  obligatory  upon  every  w  one  having  the  control  or  custody  of 
children,  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  fourteen  years,  to  send 
them  to  school  for  a  period  of  at  least  twelve  weeks  in  each  school 
year,  six  weeks  of  which,  at  least,  shall  be  consecutive. 

Thus  we  have  seen  that  Michigan,  within  a  period  of  a  little 
over  thirty-five  years,  has  established  a  system  of  education  unex 
celled  in  any  of  the  States,  old  or  new.  No  people  have  ever 
been  more  prompt  to  take  advantage  of  the  educational  facilities 
offered  them  than  have  the  people  of  Michigan.  The  utmost 
liberality  has  been  manifested  by  them  in  everything  that  pertains 
to  their-  educational  interests ;  and  the  good  results  are  every 
where  manifest  in  the  superior  intelligence  and  virtue  of  the  rising 
generation. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 


AGRICULTURE  —  MANUFACTURES  —  COMMERCE. 

IN  regard  to  the  agricultural  productions  of  Michigan,  it  has 
already  been  remarked  that  no  State  in  the  Union  produces  a 
greater  variety  of  crops,  and  few,  if  any,  produce  a  greater  aver 
age  yield  per  acre  of  the  more  important  cereals.  Of  the  other 
western  States  each  one  is  remarkable  for  the  production  of  some 
one  or  two  crops,  whilst  its  soil  is  unadapted  to  the  growth  of  any 
other  in  profitable  quantities.  But  Michigan  produces  in  great 
abundance  all  crops  belonging  to  its  latitude.  The  quality  of 
nearly  all  agricultural  productions  of  this  State  will  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  Its  wheat 
is  sought  after  in  all  the  markets  of  the  east,  and  the  highest 
price  is  paid  for  it.  The  average  yield  per  acre  is  greater  than 
in  a  majority  of  the  States,  and  in  some  years  outranks,  in  this 
respect,  every  western  State  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains.  For 
the  purpose  of  comparison,  the  four  States  immediately  surround 
ing  Michigan  will  be  taken,  viz :  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin. 

In  1870  the  average  yield  per  acre  of  the  principal  crops/in  the 
five  States  named,  was  as  follows  :  Wheat,  bushels — Ohio,  13.8  ; 
Indiana,  11.0;  Illinois,  12.0;  Wisconsin,  13.4;  Michigan,  14.0. 
Rye— Ohio,  13.8;  Indiana,  13.7;  Illinois,  16.4;  Wisconsin,  13.6; 
Michigan,  18.2.  Oats— Ohio,  31.1 ;  Indiana,  28.1  ;  Illinois,  26.0; 
Wisconsin,  27.9  ;  Michigan,  35.3.  Barley — Ohio,  2.35  ;  Indiana, 
24.1;  Illinois,  20.0;  Wisconsin,  26.5;  Michigan,  25.0.  Buck 
wheat— Ohio,  16.3 ;  Indiana,  19.2  ;  Illinois,  18.8;  Wisconsin,  20.1; 
Michigan,  17.3.  Potatoes — Ohio,  72;  Indiana,  45 ;  Illinois,  81 ; 
Wisconsin,  57;  Michigan,  95.  Tobacco,  pounds  —  Ohio,  916; 
Indiana,  850;  Illinois,  840;  Wisconsin,  900;  Michigan,  950. 
Hay,  tons — Ohio,  1.31;  Indiana,  1.27;  Illinois,  1.18;  Wisconsin, 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


641 


1.34;  Michigan,  1.36.  Indian  corn,  bushels — Ohio,  39.0;  Indiana, 
39.5  ;  Illinois,  35.2 ;  Wisconsin,  38.0 ;  Michigan,  37.0.  Thus  it  will 
be  seen  that  of  the  five  States  named,  none  of  them  outrank  Michi 
gan  in  the  average  production  of  any  crops,  save  those  of  Indian 


HON.  ISRAEL  V.  HARRIS. 

THE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  and 
best  known  families  in  Dutchess  county,  New  York. 

He  was  born  at  Pine  Plains,  in  that  county,  April  2d,  1815;  received 
an  academic  education,  and,  until  his  removal  to  Michigan  in  1836,  was 
engaged  in  farming.  His  early  associates  conceded  him  a  prominence, 
as  was  evinced  by  their  election  of  him  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  militia 
company  in  which  he  was  enrolled  in  his  eighteenth  year;  in  the  suc 
ceeding  year  electing  him  captain,  and  as  such  he  was  commissioned  by 
Governor  Marcy,  and  the  title  has  ever  since  been  attached  to  him. 

In  December,  1836,  he  came  to  Michigan,  and  remained  in  Detroit  some 
three  months,  from  whence  he  made  his  way  on  foot  to  Grand  Rapids, 
41 


642  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

corn,  buckwheat  and  barley.  Of  the  other  six  crops,  viz :  wheat, 
rye,  oats,  potatoes,  tobacco  and  hay,  Michigan  stands  ahead.  It 
will  be  seen  that  we  have  taken  for  the  purpose  of  comparison 
with  Michigan,  four  of  the  best  agricultural  States  in  the  Union. 
The  above  figures,  and  those  _which  follow,  are  taken  from  the 
census  reports  for  1870. 

In  1850  the  total  number  of  acres  of  land  in  farms  in  this  State 
was  1,929,110.  Twenty  years  later  the  number  was  swelled  to 
10,019,142.  More  than  fifty  per  cent  of  this  land  is  under  culti 
vation.  The  total  valuation  of  the  farm  lands  in  the  State  is 
6398,240,578  ;  of  farming  implements  and  machinery  $13,71 1,979. 
The  value  of  all  farm  productions,  including  betterments  and 
additions  to  stock,  for  the  same  year  was  $81,508,623.  Animals 
slaughtered,  and  sold  for  slaughter,  $11,711,624.  Home  manu 
factures,  $338,008.  Forest  products,  $2,559,682.  Market-garden 
products,  $352,658.  Orchard  products,  $3,447,985.  Wages  paid 
during  the  year,  including  the  value  of  board,  $8,421,161.  There 
were  raised  during  the  year,  of  spring  wheat,  268,810  bushels; 
winter  wheat,  15,996,963;  rye,  144,508;  corn,  14,086,238;  oats, 

in  February,  1837,  and  soon  located  about  eight  miles  west  from  there  on 
Band  Creek,  at  a  place  now  named  in  honor  of  him  "Victor's  Mills." 
He  was  mainly  instrumental  in  having  the  town  organized,  and  named 
"  Tallmudge  "  The  same  year  he  was  joined  by  his  brother  Silas  G., 
and  they  began  as  merchants  in  Grand  Rapids,  and  were  immediately 
recognized  as  among  the  leading  men  of  the  city. 

They  were  both  ardent  Democrats,  and  there  are  thousands  who  will 
remember  the  terse  logic,  the  absolute  command  of  language,  and  the 
graceful  oratory  of  Silas  G.  Harris  He  was  elected  speaker  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  in  this-State,  in  1850,  and  was  recognized  by  all  as  aa 
impartial,  prompt  and  efficient  officer. 

In  1843  Captain  Harris  and  Silas  were  joined  by  their  brother  Myron, 
and  the  succeeding  year  they  built  a  mill  on  Sand  Creek  and  commenced 
lumbering,  which,  in  connection  with  large  operations  in  real  estate,  has 
since  been  their  business. 

For  six  years  in  succession  Captain  Harris  was  supervisor  of  the  town 
of  Tallmudge,  and  iu  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  in  the  dis 
trict,  comprising  some  twenty-three  counties,  embracing  Ottawa  and 
those  lying  north  to  Mackinac.  His  opponent  in  the  senatorial  contest 
was  Senator  Thomas  W.  Ferry.  In  a  subsequent  contest  Senator  Ferry 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  643 

8,954,466;  barley,  834,558;  buckwheat,  436,755.  Of  horses 
there  were  253,670,  of  which  number  228,302  were  on  farms. 
Of  fibrous  productions  there  were  raised,  of  flax,  240,110  pounds; 
of  wool,  8,726,145  pounds.  The  other  farm  productions  for  the 
same  year  were  as  follows:  Hay,  1,290,923  tons;  hops,  828,269 
pounds;  tobacco,  5,385  pounds;  sugar,  1,781,855  pounds  ;  sorghum 
molasses,  94,686  gallons ;  maple  molasses,  23,627  gallons ;  Irish 
potatoes,  10,318,799  bushels;  sweet  potatoes,  3,651  bushels;  peas 
and  beans,  349,365  bushels;  beeswax,  14,571  pounds;  honey,* 
280,325  pounds;  domestic  wine,  21,832  gallons;  clover  seed, 
49,918  bushels;  flax  seed,  5,528  bushels;  grass  seed,  2,590  bush 
els.  The  value  of  all  live  stock  in  the  State,  at  that  time,  was 
given  as  follows:  Total  value,  $49,809,869;  horses,  $228,302; 
mules  and  asses,  $2,353  ;  milch  cows,  $250,859 ;  working  oxen, 
$36,499;  other  cattle,  $260,171 ;  sheep,  $1,985,906 ;  swine,  $417,- 
811.  Dairy  products— butter,  24,400,185  pounds  ;  cheese,  670,804 
pounds;  milk  sold,  2,277,122  gallons. 

MANUFACTURES. 

The  census  reports  for  1870  give  the  following  summary  of  the 
principal  manufacturing  interests  of  Michigan  : 

defeated  him.  The  captain  has  ever  since  held  a  prominent  position  as  a 
leader  in  the  Democratic  party  of  the  State.  He  has  been  one  of  the 
State  central  committee,  but  has  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  office. 

He  is  a  modest  and  unobtrusive  gentleman,  watchful  of  events,  and 
whose  intelligence  and  social  qualities  make  him  not  only  a  genial,  but 
an  instructive  companion. 

In  planning  railroad  enterprises  and  improvements  for  the  benefit  of 
Grand  Haven,  where  he  is  largely  interested,  his  sound  judgment  and 
practical  business  tact  have  placed  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the  business 
men  of  that  city. 

Coming  to  Michigan  at  a  time  when — 

"The  rudiments  of  empire  here 
Were  plnstic  yet.  and  warm," 

his  intellect,  his  integrity,  and  knowledge  of  the  wants  of  the  country, 
have  been  widely  felt  in  perfecting  those  organizations  for  the  conduct 
of  public  affairs  which  make  a  wilderness  secure  and  preserve  order  in 
society.  He  now  lives  at  Grand  Haven,  environed  by  the  respect  and 
cordial  regard  of  those  among  whom  his  days  have  been  passed  almost 
from  boyhood  to  the  vigor  of  his  prime. 


644  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF  THE  STATES. 

For  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements  there  were  164 
establishments,  employing  969  hands,  $1,254,759  of  capital,  pay 
ing  $362,844  for  wages,  consuming  $714,933  worth  of  material, 
and  producing  the  value  of  $1,569,596.  Boots  and  shoes — estab 
lishments  81,  hands  830,  wages  $372,844,  material  $587,104,  capi 
tal  578,172,  product  $1,249,130.  Bread,  and  other  bakery  pro 
ducts — establishments  82,  hands  306,  wages  $95,251,  material 
$459,716,  capital  $291,672,  products  $684,458.  Brick— establish 
ments  136,  hands  1,584,  wages  $275,331,  material  $128,665,  capi 
tal  $438,800,  products  $681,480.  Carriages  and  wagons — estab 
lishments  531,  hands  2,239,  wages  $761,764,  material  $862,903, 
capital  $1,649,860,  products  $2,393,328.  Cars,  freight  and  passen 
ger —  establishments  3,  hands  823,  wages  $496,058,  material 
$687,282,  capital  $615,223,  products  $1,488,742.  Clothing  - 
establishments  288,  hands  2,593,  wages  $606,881,  material  $1,444,- 
826,  capital  $1,085,650,  products  $2,577,154.  Confectionery— 
establishments  14,  hands  89,  wages  $30,794,  material  $179,769, 
capital  $57,400,  products  $261,179.  Cooperage — establishments 
291,  hands  1,139,  wages  $325,096,  material  $530,706,  capital 
$438,165,  products  $1,176,768.  Copper,  milled  and  smelted— 
establishments  19,  hands  636,  wages  $350,909,  material  $8,499,- 
496,  capital  $1,591,000,  products  $9,260,976.  Flouring  mill  pro 
ducts—establishments  305,  hands  1,389,  capital  $5,369,700,  wages 
$519,848,  material,  $14,882,834,  products  $17,633,158.  Furniture 
—  establishments  246,  hands  2,365,  capital  $2,067,620,  wages 
$660,179,  material  $679,612,  products  $1,954,688.  Iron,  forged 
and  rolled — establishments  3,  hands  465,  capital  $725,000,  wages 
$239, 164,  material  $446,000,  products  $780,750.  Iron,  pigs— estab 
lishments  17,  hands  1,625,  capital  $2,528,000,  wages  $844,259, 
material  $1,651,102,  products,  $2,911,515.  Iron,  castings,  not 
specified  —  establishments  196,  hands  1,101,  capital  $1,571,447, 
wages  $519,433,  material  $1,077,021,  products  $2,082,532.  Lea 
ther,  tanned  —  establishments  99,  hands  479,  capital  $897,047, 
wages  $192,150,  material  $1,167,876,  products  $1,606,311. 
Leather,  curried — establishments  73,  hands  249,  capital  $395,493, 
wages  $87,799,  material  $833,380,  products  $1,064,297.  Liquors, 
malt  —  establishments  128,  hands  481,  capital  $1,327,441,  wages 


HISTORY   OP   MICHIGAN. 


645 


$162,768,  material  $598,828,  products  $1,216,286.  Looking- 
glasses  and  picture  frames — establishments  9,  hands  330,  capital 
$97,125,  wages  $90,989,  material  $111,085,  products  $281,050. 
Lumber,  planed — establishments  58,  hands  488,  capital  $659,650, 


HON.   DAVID   H.  JEROME. 

DAVID  HOWELL  JEROME  was  born  November  17th,  1829,  at  Detroit. 
His  father  dying  soon  after  his  birth  his  mother  removed  to  and  lived 
in  Central  New  York  until  1834.  when  she  settled  in  St.  Clair  county. 
David  H  continued  to  reside  here  until  1854.  The  last  year,  however, 
of  this  period  he  spent  in  California,  and  while  there  located  the  claim 
for  the  "Live  Yankee  Tunnel  and  Mine"  at  Forest  City,  which  has 
since  proved  to  be  worth  millions  of  dollars.  He  projected  the  tunnel 
and  constructed  it  for  600  feet  into  the  mountain  towards  the  mine. 

In  1854  he  settled  in  Saginaw  City,  and  in  the  following  year  engaged 
in  trade  as  a  merchant,  commencing  in  general  merchandise,  and  after 
wards  changing  to  hardware.  He  is  still  in  this  business  as  the  senior 


646  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

wages  $192,157,  material  $710,105,  products  $1,085,860.  Lum 
ber,  sawed— establishments  1,180,  hands  18,817,  capital  $26,086,- 
445,  wages  $6,274,374,  material  $14,045,223,  products  $31,078,167. 
Machinery,  not  specified — establishments  63,  hands  685,  capital 
$808,666,  wages  $371,965,  material  $687,740,  products  $1,355,371. 
Machinery,  steam  engines  and  boilers — establishments  31,  hands 
412,  capital  $476,743,  wages  $211,076,  material  $369,913,  pro 
ducts  $723,704.  Meat,  packed,  pork — establishments  4,  hands  33, 
capital  $170,000,  wages  $12,050,  material  $493,033,  products 
$533,750.  Millinery  —  establishments  114,  hands  409,  capital 
$132,700,  wages  $49,555,  material  $197,542,  products  $332,371. 
Monuments  and  tomb-stones — establishments  50,  hands  242,  capi 
tal  $176,175,  wages  $82,966,  material  $11 2,603,  products  $291,782. 
Paper,  printing — establishments  4,  hands  170,  capital  $215,000, 
wages  $50,900,  material  $257,580,  products  $384,679.  Plaster, 
ground — establishments  22,  hands  240,  capital  $687,100,  wages 

partner  in  the  firm  of  D.  H  Jerome  &  Co.,  who  have  one  of  the  largest 
hardware  establishments  in  the  Saginaw  Valley.  He  has  conducted  his 
business  on  sound  principles,  and  has  amassed  a  handsome  fortune. 

In  1862  he  was  authorized  by  Governor  Blair  to  raise  the  regiment 
apportioned  to  the  Sixth  Congressional  District,  and  was  commissioned 
Commandant  of  Camp  with  the  rank  of  Colonel,  to  prepare  the  regiment 
for  the  field.  This  regiment — the  Twenty-third — was  placed  in  camp  on 
the  east  side  of  Saginaw  river  for  such  preparation.  It  afterwards  made 
a  splendid  record  in  the  service. 

During  1865-6  Colonel  Jerome  was  military  aid  to  Governor  Crapo, 
and  in  1865  he  was  also  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board, 
of  which  he  continued  a  member,  and  president,  until  the  present  year. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate  ;  he  was  reflected  in  1864, 
and  again  in  1856,  serving  six  consecutive  years  in  that  branch  of  the 
legislature.  In  that  body  he  was  prominent  in  the  debate  in  opposition 
to  the  legislation  authorizing  municipal  aid  to  railroads,  and  after  the 
batch  of  such  measures  had  gone  through  both  houses,  he  freely  sup 
ported  Governor  Crapo's  veto  and  the  policy  it  recommended. 

During  his  entire  senatorial  services  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  State  affairs  as  well  as  a  member  of  other  important  committees.  As 
such  chairman  he  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  the  policy  of  all  the 
important  legislation  made  necessary  by  the  war.  Among  other  prom 
inent  and  humane  measures  Mr.  Jerome  brought  forward  and  was  instru- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  647 

$9*7,702,  material  $160,391,  products  $333,600.  Printing  and 
publishing — establishments  65,  hands  726,  capital  $697,777,  wages 
$393,999,  material  $302,104,  products  $1,071,523.  Saddlery  and 
harness — establishments  288,  hands  824,  capital  $460,436,  wages 
$194,497,  material  $413,637,  products  $851,388.  Salt— establish 
ments  65,  hands  858,  capital  $1,717,500,  wages  $331,239,  material 
$410,561,  products  $1,176,811.  Sash,  doors  and  blinds — estab 
lishments  150,  hands  1,305,  capital  $1,279,200,  wages  $564,959, 
material  $835,852,  products,  $1,868,596.  Ship-building,  repairing 
and  materials — establishments  26,  hands  637,  capital  $547,000, 
wages,  $233,031,  material  $271,064,  products  $709,384.  Tin,  cop 
per  and  sheet-iron  ware — establishments  260,  hands  835,  capital 
$487,515,  wages  $256,595,  material  $437,998,  products  $967,972. 
Tobacco  and  cigars — establishments  6,  hands  205,  capital,  $228,500, 
wages  $67,105,  material  $445,660,  products  $717,640.  j.  Tobacco, 
chewing,  smoking  and  snuff — establishments  9,  hands  470,  capital 

mental  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the  bill  creating  the  Soldiers'  Home  at 
Harper  Hospital  in  Detroit. 

It  was  largely  due  to  his  influence  that  the  proceeds  of  the  swainp 
lands  have  been  so  largely  saved  to  assist  local  improvements  in  the  new 
counties.  His  whole  legislative  career  was  characterized  by  a  faithful 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  State  and  of  his  constituents,  as  well  as  by 
intelligent  industry,  practical  wisdom,  and  unquestioned  integrity.  He 
never  traded  votes  with  his  associates  for  the  purpose  of  getting  aid  on 
his  local  bills,  but  treated  all  bills  alike  and  left  his  own  to  be  considered 
on  thuir  merits.  The  expediency  of  this  manly  course  was  emphatically 
illustrated  in  his  experience.  At  the  same  session  in  which  the  bills  for 
municipal  aid  to  railroads  and  other  like  enterprises  were  vetoed  by  the 
Governor,  a  bill  came  before  the  senate  for  such  aid  for  a  plank  road 
leading  to  Senator  Jerome's  place  of  residence.  His  action  on  that  bill 
was  looked  for  with  curious  interest.  After  it  had  been  vetoed  and 
reconsidered,  he  arose  in  the  senate  and  frankly  stated  his  interest  in  the 
road  and  his  conviction  that  that  particular  bill  was  right.  He  expressed 
himself  with  such  felicity,  and  defined  his  position  with  such  consum 
mate  address,  that  the  bill  was  carried  over  the  veto  by  twenty-two  of 
the  twenty-eight  senators  present  voting  for  it. 

His  splendid  qualifications  as  a  legislator  so  usefully  and  honorably 
exercised  in  the  senate  doubtless  led  to  his  appointment  as  one  of  the 
commissioners,  in  1873,  to  prepare  a  new  State  constitution.  In  this 


646  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

wages  $192,157,  material  $710,105,  products  $1,085,860.  Lum 
ber,  sawed— establishments  1,180,  hands  18,817,  capital  $26,086,- 
445,  wages  $6,274,374,  material  $14,045,223,  products  $31,078,167. 
Machinery,  not  specified — establishments  63,  hands  685,  capital 
$808,666,  wages  $371,965,  material  $687,740,  products  $1,355,371. 
Machinery,  steam  engines  and  boilers— establishments  31,  hands 
412,  capital  $476,743,  wages  $211,076,  material  $369,913,  pro 
ducts  $723,704.  Meat,  packed,  pork — establishments  4,  hands  33, 
capital  $170,000,  wages  $12,050,  material  $493,033,  products 
$533,750.  Millinery  —  establishments  114,  hands  409,  capital 
$132,700,  wages  $49,555,  material  $197,542,  products  $332,371. 
Monuments  and  tomb-stones — establishments  50,  hands  242,  capi 
tal  $176,175,  wages  $82,966,  material  $11 2,603,  products  $291,782. 
Paper,  printing — establishments  4,  hands  170,  capital  $215,000, 
wages  $50,900,  material  $257,580,  products  $384,679.  Plaster, 
ground — establishments  22,  hands  240,  capital  $687,100,  wages 

partner  in  the  firm  of  D.  H  Jerome  &  Co.,  who  have  one  of  the  largest 
hardware  establishments  in  the  Saginaw  Valley.  He  has  conducted  his 
business  on  sound  principles,  and  has  amassed  a  handsome  fortune. 

In  1862  he  was  authorized  by  Governor  Blair  to  raise  the  regiment 
apportioned  to  the  Sixth  Congressional  District,  and  was  commissioned 
Commandant  of  Camp  with  the  rank  of  Colonel,  to  prepare  the  regiment 
for  the  field.  This  regiment — the  Twenty-third—was  placed  in  camp  on 
the  east  side  of  Saginaw  river  for  such  preparation.  It  afterwards  made 
a  splendid  record  in  the  service. 

During  1865-6  Colonel  Jerome  was  military  aid  to  Governor  Crapo, 
and  in  1865  he  was  also  appointed  a  member  of  the  State  Military  Board, 
of  which  he  continued  a  member,  and  president,  until  the  present  year. 

In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate  ;  lie  was  reelected  in  1864, 
and  again  in  1856,  serving  six  consecutive  years  in  that  branch  of  the 
legislature.  In  that  body  he  was  prominent  in  the  debate  in  opposition 
to  the  legislation  authorizing  municipal  aid  to  railroads,  and  after  the 
batch  of  such  measures  had  gone  through  both  houses,  he  freely  sup 
ported  Governor  Crapo's  veto  and  the  policy  it  recommended. 

During  his  entire  senatorial  services  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  State  affairs  as  well  as  a  member  of  other  important  committees.  As 
such  chairman  he  had  much  to  do  in  shaping  the  policy  of  all  the 
important  legislation  made  necessary  by  the  war.  Among  other  prom 
inent  and  humane  measures  Mr.  Jerome  brought  forward  and  was  instru- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  647 

$9*7,702,  material  8160,391,  products  $333,600.  Printing  and 
publishing — establishments  65,  hands  726,  capital  $697,777,  wages 
$393,999,  material  $302,104,  products  $1,071,523.  Saddlery  and 
harness — establishments  288,  hands  824,  capital  $460,436,  wages 
$194,497,  material  $413,637,  products  $851,388.  Salt— establish 
ments  65,  hands  858,  capital  $1,717,500,  wages  $331,239,  material 
$410,561,  products  $1,176,811.  Sash,  doors  and  blinds — estab 
lishments  150,  hands  1,305,  capital  $1,279,200,  wages  $564,959, 
material  $835,852,  products,  $1,868,596.  Ship-building,  repairing 
and  materials — establishments  26,  hands  637,  capital  $547,000, 
wages,  $233,031,  material  $271,064,  products  $709,384.  Tin,  cop 
per  and  sheet-iron  ware — establishments  260,  hands  835,  capital 
$487,515,  wages  $256,595,  material  $437,998,  products  $967,972. 
Tobacco  and  cigars — establishments  6,  hands  205,  capital,  $228,500, 
wages  $67,105,  material  $445,660,  products  $717,640.  ^Tobacco, 
chewing,  smoking  and  snuff—  establishments  9,  hands  470,  capital 

mental  in  procuring  the  passage  of  the  bill  creating  the  Soldiers'  Home  at 
Harper  Hospital  in  Detroit. 

It  was  largely  due  to  his  influence  that  the  proceeds  of  the  swamp 
lands  have  been  so  largely  saved  to  assist  local  improvements  in  the  new 
counties.  His  whole  legislative  career  was  characterized  by  a  faithful 
devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  State  and  of  his  constituents,  as  well  as  by 
intelligent  industry,  practical  wisdom,  and  unquestioned  integrity.  He 
never  traded  votes  with  his  associates  for  the  purpose  of  getting  aid  on 
his  local  bills,  but  treated  all  bills  alike  and  left  his  own  to  be  considered 
on  their  merits.  The  expediency  of  this  manly  course  was  emphatically 
illustrated  in  his  experience.  At  the  same  session  in  which  the  bills  for 
municipal  aid  to  railroads  and  other  like  enterprises  were  vetoed  by  the 
Governor,  a  bill  came  before  the  senate  for  such  aid  for  a  plank  road 
leading  to  Senator  Jerome's  place  of  residence.  His  action  on  that  bill 
was  looked  for  with  curious  interest.  After  it  had  been  vetoed  and 
reconsidered,  he  arose  in  the  senate  and  frankly  stated  his  interest  in  the 
road  and  his  conviction  that  that  particular  bill  was  right.  He  expressed 
himself  with  such  felicity,  and  defined  his  position  with  such  consum 
mate  address,  that  the  bill  was  carried  over  the  veto  by  twenty-two  of 
the  twenty-eight  senators  present  voting  for  it. 

His  splendid  qualifications  as  a  legislator  so  usefully  and  honorably 
exercised  in  the  senate  doubtless  led  to  his  appointment  as  one  of  the 
commissioners,  in  1873,  to  prepare  a  new  State  constitution.  In  this 


648  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

$847,500,  wages  $160,250,  material  $697,904,  products  $1,131,743. 
Tobacco,  cigars — establishments  99,  hands  581,  capital  $225,202, 
wages  $214,575,  material  $304,741,  products  $723,140.  Wooden 
ware  —  establishments  17,  hands  227,  capital  $324,200,  wages 
$69,774,  material  $87,795,  products  $257,710.  Wood,  turned  and 
carved — establishments  43,  hands  282,  capital  $206,825,  wages 
$85,262,  material  $92,703,  products  $309,590.  Woollen  goods- 
establishments  38,  hands  585,  capital  $858,200,  wages  $174,872, 
material  $530,064,  products  $996,203. 

This  must  not  be  understood  to  include  all  the  manufacturing 
industries  of  the  State.  Only  the  principal  ones  are  included, 
and  of  the  industries  here  specified  those  establishments  produc 
ing  less  than  the  value  of  $500  per  year  are  left  out.  If  all  were 
included  it  would  swell  the  amount  enormously.  In  another 
table  the  grand  totals  for  Michigan  are  given  as  follows : 

Manufacturing  establishments  9,455 ;  steam  engines  employed, 

body,  which  has  just  concluded  its  labors,  he  was  chairman  of  the  com 
mittee  on  finance.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  the  debates  and  consult 
ations  on  all  the  important  questions  that  the  commission  had  to  deal 
with,  and  a  prevailing  influence  in  moulding  many  of  the  new  provisions. 
While  he  opposed  unfettered  monopoly,  he  steadily  fought  against  the 
insertion  in  the  organic  law  of  restrictions  that  were  dictated  by  mere 
hostility  to  railroad  and  other  corporations.  He  intelligently  insisted 
that  they  were  indispensable  in  the  conduct  of  the  business  of  the  country, 
and  they  should  not  be  crippled  in  the  exercise  of  their  proper  func 
tions;  that  it  is  safer  and  wiser  to  leave  it  to  the  legislature  to  correct 
abuses  as  they  arise. 

Mr.  Jerome  is  a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  careful  and  deliberate 
in  the  formation  of  his  opinion,  but  steadfast  in  them  when  formed,  and 
persevering  in  carrying  them  out  in  practice.  He  is  kind  and  genial  in 
his  social  nature,  and  well  calculated  to  exercise  a  powerful  and  general 
influence  over  the  popular  mind.  He  is  every  day  the  same  bland  and 
cultivated  gentlemen.  He  is  ever  keenly  alive  to  every  scheme  aiming  at 
the  moral,  intellectual  and  material  advancement  of  his  fellows,  and  ever 
ready  with  labor  and  money  to  cooperate.  He  deserves  and  enjoys  the 
distinction  of  being  a  pleasant,  social  gentleman,  a  model  business  man, 
a  public  spirited  and  exemplary  citizen,  and  a  statesman  of  fair  stature, 
who  displays  in  his  public  capacity  all  the  virtues  that  adorn  and  beautify 
his  daily  life.  J.  G.  S. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


649 


2,215,  having  a  total  horse-power  of  70,956;  water-wheels 
employed  1,500,  having  a  total  horse-power  of  34,895;  hands 
63,694,  of  whom  58,347  are  males  above  16  years  of  age,  2,941 
are  females  above  the  age  of  15, and  2,406  youth;  aggregate  capi- 


GEORGE  WILLARD. 

GEORGE  WILLARD  was  born  in  Bolton,  Vermont,  March  20,  1824,  and 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Michigan  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Battle 
Creek,  where  he  now  resides.  In  1856  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  State  board  of  education,  and  occupied  the  position  for  six  years. 
He  has  also  been  for  the  last  ten  years  a  regent  of  the  University,  and  dur 
ing  that  time  has  held  the  chairmanship  of  the  committee  in  the  classical 
department.  Upon  the  board  of  regents,  he  strenuously  advocated  the 
admission  of  women  into  the  University,  and  introduced  the  resolution 
for  that  measure,  which  was  finally  adopted. 

Mr.  Willard  was  .a  member  of  the  Michigan  house  of  representatives 
in  1867,  and  also  of  the  constitutional  convention  in  the  same  year,  serv- 


650  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

tal   employed   871,712,283;  wages,  $21,205,355;  materials,  $68,- 
142,515;  products,  $118,394,676. 

COMMERCE. 

There  can  be  no  question  of  the  immense  superiority  of  the 
commercial  advantages  possessed  by  Michigan  over  those  of  any 
other  State  in  the  Union.  Her  natural  harbors  are  numerous, 
and  so  favorably  located  as  to  require  but  little  expense  or  labor 
to  make  them  available  for  all  classes  of  shipping.  Her  coast 
line  is  longer  than  that  of  any  other  State,  it  being  not  less  than 
one  thousand  four  hundred  miles  in  length,  and  her  shores  are 
washed  by  the  waters  of  navigable  lakes  whose  combined  area  is 
eighty-four  thousand  square  miles.  With  these  great  inland  seas 
almost  surrounding  her,  with  her  numberless  water-courses  flow 
ing  through  her  gigantic  forests  of  pine,  and  emptying  at  con 
venient  distances  into  the  great  highways  of  commerce,  with  her 
long  Hues  of  railroad  traversing  the  State  in  every  direction,  she 
enjoys  advantages  which  many  an  empire  might  envy,  and  which 
few  nations  of  the  world  possess. 

On  the  twentieth  day  of  May,  1819,  a  little  over  fifty  years  ago, 
the  steamer  Wai k-in-the- Water  landed  at  Detroit.  This  was  the 
first  steamboat  that  made  its  appearance  on  the  lakes.  She  was 
commanded  by  Captain  Jedediah  Rogers,  and  occupied  a  whole 
week  in  making  the  trip  to  Black  Rock.  Two  years  later,  this 
celebrated  pioneer  steamer  was  wrecked  near  Buffalo.  Other 
steamers  and  numerous  sailing  vessels  soon  followed,  each  year 
increasing  the  number  and  improving  the  quality  of  each  .kind, 
until  1855,  which  was  about  the  culminating  period  of  passenger 
traffic  on  the  lakes.  At  that  time  there  were  from  eight  to  ten 
departures  of  passenger  steamers  daily  from  Detroit  to  the  ports 
on  Lake  Erie  alone.  Since  that  time  the  railroads  have  absorbed 
most  of  the  passenger  traffic ;  but  the  number  of  freight  vessels 

ing  in  both  bodies  as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  education,  and  in 
1872,  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Third  Congressional  District.  He 
is  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Battle  Creek  Journal,  a  daily  and  weekly 
newspaper,  and  was  a  delegate  at  large  from  this  State  to  the  last  Republi 
can  national  convention. 


652  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

of  all  kinds  has  increased  with  wonderful  rapidity.  It  is  esti 
mated  that  the  tonnage  on  the  lakes  is,  and  has  been  for  a  number 
of  years,  increasing  at  the  rate  of  twenty  per  cent  each  year.  And 
yet  it  no  more  than  keeps  pace  with  the  growth  of  the  State  and 
the  great  Northwest.  Each  year  produces  an  increase  in  the  size 
and  an  improvement  in  the  character  of  the  vessels  built. 

In  this  connection  it  is  proper  to  mention  the  fact  that  within 
the  last  few  years  a  change  has  been  gradually  taking  place  in 
the  character  of  the  freight  vessels,  and  the  mode  of  freight 
transportation  on  the  lakes.  Up  to  1864  or  1865,  the  only  method 
of  transporting  freight  by  water  was  by  the  common,  well  known 
steamers,  propellers,  and  sailing  vessels.  At  that  time  what  may 
justly  be  called  a  new  era  was  inaugurated  by  the  building  of 
steam  barges.  These  for  a  time  were  run  independently,  and  used 
for  the  transportation  of  lumber.  In  process  of  time  the  steam 
barges  began  to  be  utilized  for  towing  other  barges  laden  with  lum 
ber.  This  at  once  lessened  the  cost  of  building  freight  trans 
ports,  decreased  the  amount  of  help  necessary  to  man  them,  and 
increased  the  carrying  capacity  of  the  bottoms  by  dispensing  with 
masts  and  machinery.  This  method,  as  intimated,  was  first  used 
in  the  lumber  trade,  but  gradually  extended  to  other  freights,  and 
present  indications  seem  to  point  to  a  total  revolution  in  the 
carrying  trade  of  the  lakes.  The  accompanying  engraving  repre 
sents  one  of  the  finest  of  the  steam  barges  here  spoken  of.  A 
glance  will  show  how  admirably  this  model  is  adapted  to  the  end 
in  view.  In  addition  to  the  great  amount  of  freight  capacity, 
both  in  the  hold  and  on  deck,  this  class  of  vessels  is  provided  with 
machinery  capable  of  towing  from  four  to  ten  common  barges, 
whose  aggregate  carrying  capacity  amounts  to  millions  of  feet  of 
lumber. 

Common  usage  has  given  these  vessels  the  name  of  "  barges " — 
a  name  which,  applied  to  this  class  of  vessels,  would  convey  an 
erroneous  impression  to  the  general  reader,  inasmuch  as  it  is  com 
monly  used  to  designate  an  inferior  order  of  freight  transports. 
A  glance  at  the  engraving  will  show  that  in  point  of  beauty  of 
model,  they  are  not  inferior  to  the  finest  specimens  of  marine 
architecture.  They  are  as  substantially  built  as  [the  best  propel- 


STSTORY  OF  MICHIGAN.  653 

lers,  and  their  machinery  is  inferior  to  none.  Properly  speaking, 
the  name  of  propeller  should  be  applied  to  them.  These  facts  are 
mentioned,  and  this  engraving  is  presented,  for  the  reason  that  the 
class  of  vessels  which  is  thus  represented  is  destined  to  revolu 
tionize  the  carrying  trade  of  the  great  lakes. 


HON.  O.  M.  BARNES. 

ORLANDO  M.  BARNES,  of  Mason,  Michigan,  was  born  in  Ira,  Cayuga 
county,  New  York,  November  21,  1824. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  a  descendant  from  the  Puritans  of  New  England,  his 
ancestors  having  been  among  the  early  settlers  jof  Plymouth  colony, 
Massachusetts. 

In  1837,  his  father  and  family  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  settled  in 
Aurelius,  Ingham  county.  The  settlement  of  this  county  had  just  com 
menced  at  that  time,  and  this  family  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Aurelius  township. 

Mr.  Barnes  received  a  thorough  education,  graduating  from  the  Michi- 


654  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

In  1859  the  total  number  of  vessels  navigating  the  waters'oi 
the  great  lakes,  all  of  which  paid  tribute  to  Michigan,  was  over 
sixteen  hundred,  with  an  aggregate  carrying  capacity  of  about 
14,000  tons. 

In  1873  the  carrying  capacity  of  the  vessels  belonging  to 
Detroit  alone  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  129,180  tons. 

Reduced  to  tabular  form,  the  carrying  capacity  of  Michigan 
vessels  stands  thus : 

Number  of  steam  craft  in  Detroit 106 

Number  of  sail  craft,  including  barges,  in  Detroit 139 

Total  in  Detroit , 245 

Number  of  steam  craft  owned  in  other  towns  in  Michigan 69 

Number  of  sail  craft  owned  in  other  towns  in  Michigan,  includ 
ing  barges 151 

Total  in  Michigan  outside  of  Detroit 210 

Aggregate  number  in  Michigan 455 

Carrying  capacity  of  steam  craft  in  Detroit,  in  tons. .     63,886 
Carrying  capacity  of  sail  craft  in  Detroit,  including 

barges 65,294 

Total  in  Detroit 129 , 180 

Carrying  capacity  of  steam  craft  in  State  outside  of 

Detroit 15 , 388 

Carrying  capacity  of  sail  craft  in  the  State  outside  of 

Detroit,  including  barges 44,063 

Total  in  State  outside  of  Detroit 59,451 

Aggregate  carrying  capacity  of  Michigan  vessels 188,631 

gan  University  with  the  class  of  1850,  and  receiving  the  degree  of  master 
of  arts  from  that  institution  four  years  later. 

Having  selected  the  law  for  his  profession,  he  began  its  study,  and 
after  devoting  himself  diligently  to  it  through  a  regular  course  of  instruc 
tion,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1851. 

In  the  following  j^ear,  he  married  Miss  Amanda  W.  Fleming,  of  Albion, 
Michigan. 

The  first  years  of  Mr.  Barnes'  professional  practice  were  attended  with 
more  than  ordinary  success  He  was  made  prosecuting  attorney  of  his 
county,  and  held  the  position  during  the  first  five  years  he  was  a  mem 
ber  of  the  bar. 

Retiring  from  this  office,  his  abilities  were  given  a  wider  field  of  opera- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  655 

Total  capacity  of  steam  vessels  of  the  State  including 

Detroit 79,275 

Total  capacity  of  sail  vessels  of  the  State  including 

Detroit 109 , 356 

Aggegate,  as  above  stated 188,031 

Value  of  steam  vessels  in  State  outside  of  Detroit,  $1,063,020 
Value  of  sail  vessels  in  the  "State  outside  of  Detroit   1,248,240 

Total  in  the  State  outside  of  Detroit $2,311,260 

Value  of  steam  vessels  in  Detroit $3, 818, 500 

Value  of  sail  vessels  in  Detroit  . .  2 , 539 , 600 


Total  in  Detroit 6,358,100 

Aggregate  value  of  vessel  property  in  Michigan $8,669,360 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  number  of  vessels  here  represented 
is  taken  from  the  register  of  the  board  of  underwriters,  and  rep 
resents  only  those  that  are  insurable  under  the  strict  rules  of  that 
board.  There  are  hundreds  of  others  that  ply  the  waters  of  our 
lakes  and  rivers,  that  are  not  included  in  this  estimate,  whose 
aggregate  tonnage  would  swell  these  figures  largely,  and  whose 
trade  forms  no  insignificant  item  in  the  commerce  of  the  State. 

tions,  and  they  with  his  untiring  energy  and  devotion  to  business  soon 
gained  him  a  position  among  the  first  lawyers  in  the  interior  of  the  State. 

In  the  fall  of  1863,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  legislature, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  proceedings  of  that  body  during  its 
sessions  in  1863-4. 

Shortly  after  his  service  in  the  State  legislature,  he,  in  a  great  measure, 
withdrew  from  his  legal  practice,  devoting  himself  more  particularly  to  his 
railroad  enterprises.  Mr.  Barnes  has  been  connected  with  the  Jackson, 
Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad  since  its  organization,  and  to  his  ability, 
energy  and  perseverance,  the  success  of  this  important  measure  is  to  a 
great  degree  attributable.  lie  has  been  the  secretary  and  attorney  of  this 
company  since  its  commencement,  and  is  now  also  its  land  commis 
sioner.  Mr.  Barnes  has  proven  himself  an  able  railroad  man,  showing  a 
keen  foresight  and  clear  judgment  upon  all  questions  connected  with  the 
building  and  running  of  a  first  class  railroad  in  these  days  of  close  com 
petition. 

In  bis  business  and  social  relations,  he  has  made  many  warm  friends 
throughout  the  State  and  country,  and  it  can  safely  be  said  that  but  few 
men  are  held  in  such  universal  esteem  at  their  homes  as  he  is  in  Mason, 
the  place  of  his  residence. 


656  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

In  this  connection  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  note  the 
amount  of  commerce  that  passed  through  the  Detroit  river  in 
1872.  The  following  figures  are  made  from  information  derived 
from  the  custom  houses  and  boards  of  trade  at  Chicago,  Milwau 
kee,  Detroit,  Toledo,  Sandusky,  Cleveland,  Erie,  Buffalo,  Tona- 
wanda,  and  Welland  Canal,  and  for  which  we  acknowledge  our 
indebtedness  to  the  courtesy  of  George  W.  Bissell,  Esq.,  of  the 
Detroit  Board  of  Trade : 

TONNAGE  OF  FREIGHT  THROUGH  DETROIT  RIVER  IN  1872. 

TONS. 

Lumber,  971,977,849  feet,  which  reduced  to  tons  amounts  to. .  1,943,954 

Coal 1,109,196 

Grain,  75,146,567  bushels,  equals 2,028,857 

Flour,  800,034  barrels,  equals 86,403 

Iron  ore,  scrap,  pig  and  railroad  iron 985 , 621 

Salt,  616,000  barrels,  equals 92,400 

Staves 108,693 

Received  at  Detroit  from  small  vessels 373 ,468 

General  merchandise 876,789 

ENTERED  AND  CLEARED  AT  DETROIT,  NOT  BEFORE  INCLUDED. 

Vessels  of  150  tons,  and  under 328,717 

Vessels  over  150  tons 1,182,472 

Total  tons 9,116,570 

CARRYING  CAPACITY  OF  THE  LAKE  MARINE. 

NUMBER.  TONS. 

Sail  vessels 1 ,542  423,655 

Steam  vessels 529  171,079 

New  vessels,  steam  and  sail 134  167,500 


Totals 2,205  762,234 

Whole  estimated  value $50,000,000 

It  will  be  seen  by  comparing  the  above  figures  with  those  we 
have  given  for  the  State,  that  over  seventeen  per  cent,  in  value, 
of  the  lake  shippiag  is  owned  in  Michigan ;  and  that  the  car 
rying  capacity  of  the  vessels  of  Michigan  amounts  to  over  twenty- 
five  per  cent,  or  more  than  one-fourth,  of  the  whole  tonnage  of 
the  lakes.  The  apparent  discrepancy  between  the  two  per  cent- 
ages  is  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that  the  lumber  barges  heretofore 


HIST6RY    OF   MICHIGAN.  657 

alluded  to,  possess  a  much  greater  carrying  capacity,  in  proportion 
to  their  cost,  than  other  vessels.  As  most  of  these  barges  are 
owned  in  Michigan  the  apparent  discrepancy  will  be  readily 
understood. 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  foregoing  that  the  commerce  of  the  lakes 
increases  enormously  from  year  to  year,  notwithstanding  the  num 
ber  of  railroads  that  span  the  continent  and  traverse  the  State  in 
all  directions.  This  wonderful  growth  of  the  lake  marine,  how 
ever,  no  more  than  keeps  pace  with  the  demands  of  trade  in  the 
great  Northwest.  Nor  is  there  any  prospect  in  the  near  future  of 
any  diminution  in  the  rate  of  increase.  The  time  is  not  far  dis 
tant  when  the  loading  of  ships  at  our  wharves  with  merchandise 
for  Liverpool  will  be  the  rule  instead  of  the  exception.  Quite  a 
large  direct  trade  with  Europe  has  already  been  established ;  but 
with  the  building  of  canals  now  in  contemplation,  or  the  enlarge 
ment  of  those  now  in  existence,  that  trade  will  swell  to  enormous 

proportions. 

42 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 


MINERAL  SPRINGS  OP  MICHIGAN — THEIR  DISCOVERY — ANALYSES  OF  THE 
WATERS  —  THE  LOCATION  OF  EACH  —  THE  ST.  Louis  SPRING — 
ALPENA  —  MIDLAND  —  EATON  RAPIDS  —  SPRING  LAKE  —  LANSING  — 
FRUITPORT — BUTTERWORTH'S — Owosso  —  HUBBARDSTON  —  LESLIE — 
MOUNT  CLEMENS. 

Within  the  last  four  or  five  years  Michigan  has  acquired  a 
national  reputation  as  a  watering  place  and  a  resort  for  invalids. 
This  is  owing  to  the  discovery  that  the  water  flowing  from  arte 
sian  wells  in  various  parts  of  the  State  is  highly  charged  with 
various  minerals  that  are  recognized  by  physicians  as  valuable  in 
the  treatment  of  disease. 

The  first  discovery  of  this  kind  was  made  at  St.  Louis,  Gratiot 
county,  in  the  summer  of  1869.  In  that  year  a  company  began 
boring  for  salt  water.  At  the  depth  of  200  feet  a  vein  of  water 
was  struck  which  spouted  up  to  the  height  of  twenty-four  feet 
above  the  surface.  The  tube  was  three  and  a  half  inches  in 
diameter,  and  it  delivered  300  gallons  of  water  per  minute.  The 
water  was  beautifully  clear  and  cold,  and  to  the  taste  was  barely 
perceptibly  alkaline.  It  was  not  saline,  and  was  therefore  aban 
doned  for  manufacturing  purposes.  An  accident  finally  revealed 
the  fact  that  pieces  of  iron  or  steel  held  in  the  water  a  few  min 
utes  became  charged  with  magnetism.  This  led  to  further  experi 
ments,  resulting  in  the  discovery  that  the  water  possessed  medical 
properties  invaluable  in  the  treatment  of  various  forms  of  disease. 
An  analysis  of  the  waters  was  made  by  Prof.  Duffield,  which  con 
firmed  the  opinion  as  to  their  value,  and  the  wells  soon  became  a 
resort  for  hundreds  of  the  afflicted.  This  led  to  further  searches 
in  different  parts  of  the  State,  and  the  result  is  that  nearly  a  hun 
dred  wells  of  water  have  been  found  to  possess  (as  their  friends 
claim)  magnetic  properties.  Upwards  of  twenty  of  these  have 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


659 


been  advertised  as  containing  mineral  qualities,  and  those  that 
have  been  analyzed  show  the  statement  to  be  correct.  It  is  proper 
to  state  in  this  connection  that  the  question  in  regard  to  the 
magnetic  properties  claimed  for  these  springs  is  still  an  open  one. 


HON.  A.   C.   BALDWIN. 

AUGUSTUS  C.  BALDWIN  was  born  at  Salina,  in  the  State  of  New  York, 
December  24,  1817. 

When  but  five  years  of  ?.ge,  he  lost  his  father  by  death,  and  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  for  support.  By  unremitting  industry, 
he  gained  a  comfortable  livelihood,  and  acquired  a  thorough  English 
education. 

In  1837,  he  settled  in  Oakland  county,  Michigan,  where  he  studied 
law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1842.     He  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Milford,  but  soon  removed  to  Pontiac,  Oakland  county, 
where  he  has  since  resided,  ,and  where  he  is  still  in  regular  practice. 
f  . 


660  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Scientific  men  differ  on  this  point ;  but  as  to  their  mineral  proper 
ties  there  is  no  room  for  doubt. 

In  the  following  pages  the  analyses  of  the  more  prominent 
wells  will  be  given,  the  order  of  their  arrangement  having  no 
reference  to  the  date  of  their  discovery  or  their  value  in  the  treat 
ment  of  disease.  In  regard  to  the  latter  point,  the  analysis  will 
be  the  best  guide ;  some  being  adapted  to  the  treatment  of  one 
class  of  diseases  and  others  to  another.  It  is  not  in  the  province 
of  the  historian  to  discriminate.  Many  of  them  are  extensively 
patronized,  and  thousands  of  remarkable  cures  have  been  reported. 

ST.  LOUIS  MAGNETIC  SPRINGS. 

St.  Louis  is  a  quiet  and  pleasant  little  town  of  about  1,500 
inhabitants,  situated  about  34  miles  west  of  Saginaw,  and  is 
reached  by  the  Saginaw  Valley  and  St.  Louis  Railroad.  It  has 
four  hotels,  capable  of  accommodating  three  or  four  hundred 
guests.  A  commodious  bath  house  has  been  erected  at  the  well, 
and  is  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Silas  Kennedy,  resident  physi 
cian.  The  following  analysis  of  this  water  was  made  by  Dr. 
Samuel  P.  Duffield,  of  Detroit  Medical  College.  It  is  calculated 
on  the  imperial  or  wine  gallon,  S.  G.  1011. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Michigan  in  1844  and 
1846;  prosecuting  attorney  for  Oakland  county  in  1853  and  1854,  and 
representative  for  the  (then)  fifth  congressional  district  of  Michigan,  in 
the  Thirty-eighth  Congress  of  the  United  States,  serving  upon  the  com 
mittee  on  agriculture  and  the  committee  on  expenditures  in  the  Depart 
ment  of  the  Interior. 

His  political  affiliation  has. always  be  r.  with  the  Democratic  party. 
He  was  a  delegate  to  the  national  Dcmoci'ii-e  conventions  at  Charleston 
and  Baltimore  in  1860,  and  at  Chicago  in  1864. 

He  has  devoted  a  considerable  portion  of  -his  fortune  to  the  acquisition 
of  an  extensive  library  in  the  depart  men  IP  of  law  and  literature.  In 
1871,  he  was  in  possession  of  one  of  only  ;,uee  complete  sets  of  Ameri 
can  Reports  in  the  United  States,  for  some  single  volumes  of  which  he 
paid  as  high  a  price  as  $75.  This  valuable1  and  rare  collection  was  sold 
to  the  Bar  Association  of  Kansas  city,  Missouri.  His  private  library 
consists  of  about  7,000  volumes,  and  his  collection  of  paintings  is  one  of 
the  finest  in  Michigan. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


661 


Sulphate  lime,  66.50 ;  silicate  lime,  6.72 ;  chloride,  a  trace ; 
bicarbonate  soda,  106.40;  bicarbonate  lime,  69.40;  bicarbonate 
magnesia,  17.50;  bicarbonate  iron,  1.20;  silica,  free,  2.88; 
organic  matter  and  loss,  2.00;  total  constituents,  272.60.  Bicar- 


HON.   CHARLES  RYND,  M.  D. 

THE  subject  of  the  present  sketch  is  emphatically  a  self-made  man. 
Unaided  by  any  circumstances  of  birth  or  fortune,  he  has  by  sheer  force 
of  intellect,  by  industry  and  by  indomitable  persistence  of  purpose, 
attained  a  position  of  honor  among  men,  socially,  politically  and  as  an 
eminent  practitioner  of  medicine.  He  was  born  December  $8,  1836,  in 
the  county  of  Donegal,  Ireland,  and  belongs  to  that  race  of  Protestant 
Irishmen  which  has  given  to  the  world  so  many  persons  eminent  in  the 
various  walks  of  life.  In  May,  1851,  not  yet  fifteen  3rears  of  age,  but 
having  received,  for  a  boy  of  his  age,  the  ground-work  of  a  first-class 
education,  he  came  to  this  country  alone,  landed  in  New  York  city  in 
June,  and  from  thence  went  directly  to  Canada.  His  experience  in 


662  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

bonates,  194.50 ;  free  carbonic  acid  in  gallon,  6.21 ;  sulphureted 
hydrogen,  traces.  Total  mineral  matter  in  gallon,  276.81. 

ALPENA  MAGNETIC  WELL. 

This  well  is  situated  in  the  town  of  Alpena,  on  Thunder  bay, 
about  100  miles  south  of  Mackinaw.  It  is  a  very  pleasant, 
thriving  town,  and  posesses  many  advantages  as  a  summer  resort, 
having  good  hotel  accommodations,  bathing  facilities,  churches 
and  billiard  tables.  The  place  is  reached  by  steamer  from  Detroit 
and  Saginaw.  The  chemical  analysis  shows  the  following  constit 
uent  elements  of  the  water  : 

Bicarbonate  of  soda,  15,736  grains;  bicarbonate  of  lime, 
55,136 ;  bicarbonate  of  magnesia,  62,920 ;  bicarbonate  of  iron, 
1,840;  sulphate  of  lime,  30,056;  'silica  and  aluminum,  3,088; 
chloride  of  sodium  (salt),  68,256 ;  organic  matter  and  loss,  928 ; 
total,  237,960.  Total  mineral  constituents  237,032  grains;  sulphu 
reted  hydrogen  gas,  3.91  cubic  inches ;  carbonic  acid  gas,  a  trace. 

MIDLAND   MAGNETIC   SPRING. 

This  well  is  situated  in  the  town  from  which  its  name  is  derived, 
a  thriving  village  on  the  Tittabawassee  river.  It  is  about  20 
miles  northwest  of  Saginaw,  and  is  reached  by  the  Flint  and  Pere 
Marquette  Railway.  It  has  good  hotel  accommodations,  and  a 

Canada  was  that  of  every  boy,  either  here  or  there,  who  is  thrown 
entirly  on  his  own  resources.  What  he  secured,  either  in  money  or 
knowledge,  was  honestly  earned.  He  worked  on  a  farm,  clerked  in  the 
store  of  Hon.  T.  B.  Guest,  of  St.  Mary's,  since  a  member  of  parliament, 
and  afterwards  assumed  charge  of  a  large  school,  which  he  managed 
with  marked  ability  and  success  for  five  consecutive  years.  During  these 
years  he  made  good  use  of  his  spare  time. 

Under  the  private  tuition  of  a  Presbyterian  clergyman  he  became  a 
good  classic  scholar.  He  wrote  largely  for  the  Toronto  journals,  and 
studied  medicine  under  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Daniel  Wilson,  a  dis 
tinguished  and  scholarly  practitioner  of  St.  Mary's.  Anxious  to  enlarge 
his  acquisitions  in  this  direction,  he  left  the  Dominion  and  entered  the 
University  of  Michigan,  at  Ann  Arbor,  where  he  took  a  thorough  course 
of  instruction,  not  only  in  medicine,  but  also  in  the  chemical  laboratory. 
While  in  the  university,  he  was  the  private  pupil  and  assistant  of  Profes- 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  663 

good  bath  house  has  been  opened  in  connection  with  the  well. 
An  analysis  of  its  waters  shows  it  to  contain,  in  one  imperial 
gallon : 

Sulphate  of  lime,  4.4591  grains;  sulphate  of  potassa,  82.1930  ; 
sulphate  of  soda,  22.0690;  phosphate  of  alumina,  1.7287,  chlor 
ide  of  calcium,  6.2194;  chloride  of  magnesium,  2.1948;  chloride 
of  sodium,  32.7025  ;  silica,  2.9631;  organic  .matter,  2,4692  ;  loss, 
3.2120;  total  salts,  160.2108. 

EATON  RAPIDS  MAGNETIC  SPRINGS. 

These  wells  are  in  the  town  of  Eaton  Rapids,  twenty-five  miles 
northwest  from  Jackson,  on  Grand  river,  and  are  reached  by  the 
Grand  River  Valley  Railroad.  It  is  a  beautiful,  enterprising  and 
healthful  town,  and  has  become  within  a  few  years  an  exceed 
ingly  popular  summer  resort.  Seven  wells  are  found  here,  each 
one  being  connected  with  a  hotel,  and  possessing  ample  bathing 
facilities.  The  Frost  well  is  the  oldest,  and  bears  the  following 
analysis,  by  Professor  Duffield : 

Sulphate  of  lime,  4.64  grains ;  carbonate  of  lime,  46.24 ;  car 
bonate  of  magnesia,  9.11;  carbonate  of  iron,  2.38;  chloride  of 
sodium,  9.21 ;  silica,  15.74 ;  organic  matter  and  loss,  .90.  Total 
mineral  contents  of  one  imperial  gallon,  88.22  ;  total  carbonic 
acid,  22.22  cubic  inches. 

sor  M.  Gunn,  now  of  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago.  In  the  spring  of 
1859,  he  graduated  with  honor,  and  devoted  the  following  summer  to 
hospital  practice,  settling  in  Adrian  in  November  of  the  same  year, 
where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  has,  since  his  residence  in  Adrian, 
served  four  years  in  the  common  council,  where  he  inaugurated  several 
important  measures  of  civic  reform,  which  have  since  been  copied  by 
nearly  all  the  leading  cities  of  the  State.  He  has  also  served  as  president 
of  the  board  of  education  with  credit  to  himself,  and  advantage  to  the 
city.  In  the  spring  of  1871,  he  was,  after  a  somewhat  warm  contest, 
nominated  by  the  State  Republican  convention  as  a  candidate  for  regent 
of  the  university,  and  was  elected  by  a  very  large  majority,  his  vote  at 
home  showing  the  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held.  In  the  city  of 
Adrian,  he  ran  ahead  of  his  colleagues,  on  the  State  ticket,  nearly  900 
votes,  and  he  also  ran  largely  ahead  in  all  parts  of  the  county. 
Dr.  Rynd  has  always  been  an  indefatigable  worker.  His  will  secures 


664  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

The  Shaw  spring,  analyzed  by  Prof.  Kedzie,  of  the  State 
Agricultural  College,  bears  the  following  analysis : 

Cubic  inches  per  gallon  of  carbonic  acid  gas,  15.97 ;  solid  resi 
due  left  on  evaporating  one  gallon,  90.45  grains.  An  analysis  of 
the  residue  shows  the  following :  Sulphate  of  lime,  48.13  grains ; 
carbonate  of  lime,  20.74;  carbonate  of  magnesia,  3.84;  carbonate 
of  iron,  2.23 ;  carbonate  of  soda,  11.57  ;  carbonate  of  potassa,  1.27  ; 
chloride  of  sodium,  .90  ;  silica  acid,  1.40 ;  organic  matter  and  loss, 
.90. 

Professor  Kedzie  also  analyzed  the  Mosher  spring,  with  the 
following  result : 

Sulphate  of  lime,  45.16  grains  ;  carbonate  of  lime,  19.43;  car 
bonate  of  magnesia,  4.52;  carbonate  of  iron,  1.00;  carbonate  of 
potassa,  1.15;  carbonate  of  soda,  5.38;  chloride  of  sodium,  90; 
silicic  acid,  2.54 ;  organic  matter  and  loss,  .85.  Total  solid  con 
tents  in  grains,  79.23 ;  cubic  inches  carbonic  acid  gas,  15.38. 

Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  State  Assayer  of  Massachusetts,  made  the 
following  analysis  of  the  Sterling  spring  : 

Sulphate  of  lime,  55.20  grains;  sulphate  of  soda,  12.59;  sul 
phate  of  magnesia,  9.40 ;  carbonate  of  soda  and  chloride  of  sodium, 
5.21 ;  carbonate  of  iron,  2.80.  Total  solid  contents,  85.20. 

Professor  Kedzie  also  made  the  analysis  of  the  Bordine  spring 
with  the  following  result ; 

success  in  every  work  he  undertakes.  Possessed  of  a  vigorous  constitu 
tion  and  being  extremely  simple  and  temperate  in  all  his  habits,  he  has 
secured  a  large  and  remunerative  practice,  has  secured  also  a  comfortable 
competence,  and  has  invested  largely  in  industrial  interests  in  the  city  of 
his  residence.  His  action  on  the  board  of  regents  has  been  characterized 
by  an  intelligent  liberality,  a  keen  insight  into  the  necessities  of  the 
university,  and  an  intense  hatred  of  shams  and  dishonesty.  In  the  sum 
mer  of  1873,  he  was  tendered  a  professorship  in  the  medical  department 
of  the  university,  which  he  declined. 

He  is  a  very  ready  writer,  a  fluent  and  vigorous  public  speaker,  a  hard 
worker,  keeps  a  keen  and  intelligent  watch  of  public  affairs,  is  a  warm 
friend  to  those  he  esteems,  liberal  to  a  fault,  thoroughly  independent — is, 
in  short,  a  good  citizen,  public  spirited  and  enterprising,  ever  on  the  side 
of  right  and  justice — a  good  illustration  of  what  may  be  accomplished  by 
energy,  industry  and  integrity  under  adverse  and  untoward  circum 
stances. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


665 


Sulphate  of  lime,  57.50  grains ;  bicarbonate  of  lime,  40.47 ; 
bicarbonate  of  magnesia,  8.40 ;  bicarbonate  of  potassa,  3.00 ; 
bicarbonate  of  soda,  5.05 ;  bicarbonate  of  iron,  2.25 ;  chloride  of 
sodium,  1.50;  silicia,  2.00.  Total  grains  in  a  gallon,  120.17; 
cubic  inches  carbonic  acid,  17.35. 


HON.    HENRY    H.    CRAPO. 

HENRY  H.  CRAPO,  the  fourteenth  governor  of  Michigan,  was  born  in 
Dartmouth,  Massachusetts,  May  24th,  1804. 

He  received  his  education  in  that  State,  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
New  Bedford,  where  he  remained  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Crapo  removed  to  Michigan  in  1857,  and  settling  in  the  village  of 
Flint,  soon  became  extensively  interested  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 


666  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

SPRING  LAKE  MAGNETIC  SPRING. 

This  well  is  in  the  town  whose  name  it  bears,  which  is  situated 
on  the  Grand  river  at  its  junction  with  the  body  of  water  known 
as  Spring  lake.  It  is  two  miles  from  Grand  Haven,  and  is  con 
nected  with  that  town  by  a  line  of  stages.  A  good  bath  house 
has  been  erected  at  the  well,  and  the  hotel  accommodations  are 
excellent.  Prof.  Wheeler,  of  Chicago,  has  analyzed  the  waters 
with  the  following  result : 

Chloride  of  potassium,  4.2880  grains ;  chloride  of  sodium, 
405.5330;  chloride  of  calcium,  113.4200;  chloride  of  magnesium, 
36.2000  ;  bicarbonate  of  soda,  0.0547  ;  bicarbonate  of  lirne,  0.1308 ; 
bicarbonate  of  ferri,  1.0090;  bicarbonate  of  magnesium,  0.0040; 
bicarbonate  of  manganese,  0.0534;  bromide,  2.1700;  sulphate  of 
soda,  46.7000  ;  silicia,  0.5030  ;  alumina,  traces  ;  ammonia,  0.0158; 
organic  matter,  18.2902 ;  lithia,  traces. 

LANSING  MAGNETIC  SPRING. 

This  spring  is  situated  at  Lansing,  the  capital  of  the  State,  a 
beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of  about  6,500  inhabitants.  The 
town  is  easily  reached  by  railroad  from  any  direction.  The  hotel 
accommodations  are  ample  and  excellent.  The  spring  is  located 
at  the  confluence  of  Grand  and  Cedar  rivers,  about  a  mile  up  the 
Grand  river.  A  commodious  bath  house  is  in  operation,  and  a 
large  first-class  hotel  has  been  built  in  connection  with  the  spring. 
The  well  is  about  1,400  feet  in  depth,  and  discharges  1,500  gallons 
per  day.  An  analysis  made  by  Dr.  Jennings,  of  Detroit,  presents 
the  following  result : 

Chloride  of  sodium,  320.224;   bicarbonate  of  lime,  107.590; 

lumber,  and  did  much  to  promote  the  growth  of  his  adopted  city  by 
encouraging  its  manufacturing  interests. 

He  served  the  city  of  Flint  as  mayor  for  some  time,  and  was  called  to 
the  executive  chair  of  the  State  in  January,  1864,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  two  terms,  or  until  the  close  of  1867.  He  was  governor  of  the 
State  during  the  last  years  of  the  rebellion,  and  performed  invaluable 
services  for  the  North  in  its  final  struggle,  which  resulted  in  the  complete 
overthrow  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

Governor  Crapo  died  at  his  home,  in  Flint,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1869. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  667 

bicarbonate  of  soda,  112.081 ;  bicarbonate  of  magnesia,  23.027 ; 
bicarbonate  of  iron,  1.882:  sulphate  of  potassa,  14.940;  sulphate 
of  soda,  30.065;  silica,  3.966.  Solid  contents  of  one  imperial 
gallon,  613.775.  Total  carbonic  acid,  235.550  cubic  inches. 

FRUITPORT  SULPHUR  AND  MAGNETIC  WELL. 

This  well  is  located  in  Fruitport,  a  new  and  flourishing  town 
situated  at  the  head  of  Spring  lake.  It  occupies  a  prominent 
position  in  the  fruit  region  of  the  western  part  of  the  State,  on 
the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  It  possesses  ample  hotel  accommo 
dations,  a  commodious  bath  house,  and  is  a  popular  resort  for 
pleasure  and  health  seekers.  Prof.  Wheeler,  of  Chicago,  pre 
sents  the  following  analysis  of  its  waters : 

Bicarb,  soda,  6.5156 ;  bicarb,  lime,  5.1100 ;  bicarb,  iron, 
7.5000 ;  bicarb,  magnesia,  4.1511  ;  bicarb,  manganese,  0.1050 ; 
chloride  sodium,  464.0319;  chloride  lime,  111.1110;  chloride 
potassium,  0.4312;  chloride  magnesium,  46.8072 ;  bromide,  0.7666; 
sulphate  soda,  45.9960 ;  silica  and  silicates,  10.6050 ;  alumina, 
traces.  Total  fixed  residue,  679.7489.  Total  free  gas,  7  cubic 

inches. 

BUTTERWORTH'S  MAGNETIC  SPRING. 

This  spring  is  located  at  Grand  Rapids,  one  of  the  most  flour 
ishing  cities  in  Michigan,  situated  on  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee 
Railroad.  The  hotel  accommodations  are  first  class  in  every 
respect,  and  ample  bathing  facilities  are  offered  at  the  spring.  The 
waters  of  this  spring  are  said  to  resemble  that  of  Bath,  England. 
Prof.  Duffield's  analysis  presents  the  following  result : 

Sulphate  of  lime,  90.190;  chloride  of  potassium,  11.790;  chlo 
ride  of  sodium,  15.280 ;  chloride  of  calcium,  7.330  ;  chloride  of 
magnesium,  50.240  ;  bicarb,  soda,  6.003 ;  bicarb,  lime,  10.012 ; 
bicarb,  magnesia,  7.020  ;  bicarb,  iron,  1.170;  silica,  .617;  alum 
ina,  .494;  organic  matter  and  losss,  .801.  Total  mineral  matter, 

200.947. 

OWOSSO  CHALYBEATE  SPRING. 

Owosso  is  a  flourishing  town,  situated  on  the  Detroit  and  Mil 
waukee  Railroad,  at  the  crossing  of  the  Jackson,  Lansing  and 
Saginaw  Railroad.  The  spring  is  situated  about  a  mile  south  of 


668  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

the  town.  A  bath-house  has  been  erected,  and  the  place  is  des 
tined  to  become  a  popular  resort.  The  following  is  the  analysis 
of  the  water : 

Bicarb,  lime,  25.667;  bicarb,  magnesia,  19.094 ;  bicarb,  iron, 
15.920  ;  chlorides  sodium  and  potassium,  2.102  ;  silica  and  alum 
ina,  .617.  Total  mineral  in  one  gallon,  63.400. 

HUBBARDSTON  MAGNETIC  SPRING. 

This  spring  is  located  in  the  town  whose  name  it  bears,  and  is 
reached  by  the  Detroit  and  Milwaukee  Railroad  to  Pewamo, 
thence  by  stage  six  miles  to  the  well.  A  bath  house  has  been 
erected,  and  hotel  accommodations  are  convenient.  Prof.  Doug 
lass,  of  the  Michigan  University,  has  analyzed  the  waters,  with 
the  following  result : 

Bicarb,  of  lime,  23.812;  bicarb,  magnesia,  10.712;  protoxide 
of  iron,  .154 ;  silica,  .139.  Total  mineral  matter  in  one  gallon, 
34.817. 

LESLIE  MAGNETIC  SPRING. 

This  spring  is  situated  at  Leslie,  a  smart  village  on  the  Jackson, 
Lansing  and  Saginaw  Railroad,  between  Jackson  and  Lansing. 
A  good  bath  house  is  in  operation,  and  hotel  accommodations  are 
convenient.  Prof.  Kedzie's  analysis  of  the  waters  present  the  fol 
lowing  result : 

Bicarb,  lime,  30.62 ;  sulphate  of  lime,  7.04 ;  bicarb,  magnesia, 
10.53;  bicarb,  iron,  2.27;  bicarb  soda,  5.27;  bicarb  potassa, 
4.55;  silica,  2.08;  organic  matter,  .65.  Grains  solid  matter  in 
imperial  gallon,  63.01.  Free  carbonic  acid  gas  in  gallon  13i 
cubic  inches. 

MOUNT  CLEMENS  MAGNETIC  MINERAL  SPRING. 
This  spring  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Clinton  river,  at 
Mount  Clemens,  twenty  miles  from  Detroit,  and  is  reached  by  the 
Grand  Trunk  Railway  and  by  boat  from  Detroit.  The  town  is 
beautifully  situated,  ample  hotel  accommodations  are  convenient 
to  the  springs,  and  a  commodious  bath  house  is  in  operation.  A 
well  known  physician,  Dr.  H.  Taylor,  acts  as  consulting  physician 
at  the  establishment.  A  committee  appointed  by  the  Northeast- 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN. 


669 


ern  Medical  and  Scientific  Society  reported  these  waters  as  being 
unsurpassed  by  any  in  this  State,  or  the  State  of  New  York.  The 
following  is  the  analysis  of  the  water  made  by  Prof.  Duffield : 

Specific  gravity  at  60°  Fahrenheit,  1129.00.  Total  amount  of 
mineral  matter  per  pint,  1417.6200.  Total  amount  of  chloride 
of  sodium  per  pint  1350.8498  =  66.7702. 

Composition  —  Sulphate  soda  per  pint,  12.0700 — per  gallon, 
96.5600;  sulphate  lime  per  pint,  5.4992  — per  gallon,  43.9936; 
chloride  sodium  per  pint,  1350.8498  — per  gallon,  10806.7984; 
chloride  calcium  per  pint,  26.9399 — per  gallon,  215.5120;  chloride 
magnesium  per  pint,  20.2400 — per  gallon,  161.9200;  carbonate 


SAUGATUCK    UNION    SCHOOL. 

THE  above  engraving  is  a  very  correct  representation  of  the  Union 
School  at  Saugatuck,  Allegan  county,  Mich.,  and  is  a  fair  sample  of  the 
beautiful  school  buildings  found  in  the  different  villages  of  about  one 
thousand  inhabitants  throughout  the  State. 


670  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF  TSE  STATES. 

lime  per  pint,  .6210 — per  gallon,  4.9680 ;  carbonate  magnesia,  a 
trace  ;  silica  and  alumina  per  pint,  1.4010  ;  organic  matter,  trace ; 
grains,  per  pint,  1417.6200— per  gallon,  11340.9600. 

Amount  of  sulphureted  hydrogen  per  gallon,  3.41  cubic  inches; 
carbonic  acid,  trace. 

The  foregoing  are  the  principal  mineral  springs  in  the  State. 
They  have  all  won  a  high  reputation  for  their  curative  properties, 
and  thousands  in  this  and  other  States  attest  their  value.  There 
are  many  others,  probably  of  equal  importance,  and  when  better 
known  will  take  their  places  in  the  front  rank  of  curative  agen 
cies.  At  present  Michigan  seems  destined  to  become  the  great 
popular  resort  for  pleasure-seekers  and  for  those  whose  physical 
constitutions  require  the  reconstructive  agencies  of  medicinal 
waters. 


GOVERNORS    OF    MICHIGAN. 


DURING   FRENCH   RULE. 

Sieur  de  Mesey,  appointed  1663  ;  Sieur  de  Courcelle,  1665  ;  Sieur  de 
Frontenac,  1672;  Sieur  de  Barre,  1682;  Sieur  Marquis  de  Nouville,  1685; 
Sieur  de  Frontenac,  1689;  Sieur  Chevalier  de  Callieres,  1699;  Marquis  de 
Vaudreuil,  1703;  Marquis  de  Beauharnais,  1726;  Sieur  Compt  de  la  Gal- 
lisoniere,  1749;  Sieur  de  la  Jonquiere,  1749;  Marquis  du  Quesne  de  Men- 
neville,  1752;  Sieur  de  Vaudreuil  de  Cavagnal,  1755. 

DURING  BRITISH  RULE. 

James  Murray,  appointed  1765  ;  Paulus  Emelius  Irving,  1766  ;  Guy 
Carleton,  1766;  Hector  T.  Cramahe,  1770;  Guy  Carleton,  1774;  Frederick 
Haldeman,  1774;  Henry  Hamilton,  1774;  Henry  Hope,  1775;  Lord  Dor 
chester,  1776;  Alured  Clarke,  1791;  Lord  Dorchester,  1798. 

GOVERNORS   OF   MICHIGAN   TERRITORY. 

William  Hull,  appointed  in  1805;  Lewis  Cass,  1814;  George  B.  Porter, 
1829;  Stevens  T.  Mason  (ex  officio},  1834;  John  T.  Horner  (ex  officio),  1835. 

MICHIGAN   STATE   GOVERNORS. 

Stevens  T.  Mason,  1835;  William  Woodbridge,  1840;  J.  Wright  Gordon 
(acting),  1841;  John  S.  Barry,  1842;  Alpheus  Felch,  1846;  William  L. 
Greenly  (acting),  1847  ;  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  1848;  John  S.  Barry, 
1850;  Robert  McClelland,  1852;  Andrew  Parsons  (acting),  1853;  Kinsley 
S.  Bingham,  1855;  Moses  Wisner,  1859;  Austin  Blair,  1861;  Henry  H. 
Crapo,  1865;  Henry  P.  Baldwin,  1869;  John  J.  Bagley,  1873. 

LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS  OF  MICHIGAN. 

Edward  Mundy,  1835;  J.  Wright  Gordon,  1840;  Origen  D.  Richardson, 
1842;  William  L.  Greenly,  1847;  William  M.  Fenton,  1848;  William  L. 
Greenly,  1849;  William  M.  Fenton,  1850;  Andrew  Parsons,  1853;  George 
A  Coe,  1855;  Edmund  B.  Fairneld,  1859;  James  Birney,  1861;  Joseph  R. 
Williams  (acting),  1861;  Henry  T.  Backus  (acting),  1862;  Charles  S.  May, 
1868;  Ebenezer  O  Grosvenor,  1865;  D  wight  May,  1867;  Morgan  Bates, 
1869;  Henry  H.  Holt,  1873. 


672  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

SPEAKERS   OF   THE   HOUSE   OF   REPRESENTATIVES. 

Ezra  Convis,  1835  ;  Charles  W.  Whipple,  1836  ;  Kinsley  S.  Bingham, 
1838;  Henry  Acker,  1840;  Philo  C.  Fuller,  1841;  Kinsley  S.  Bingham,  1842; 
Robert  McClelland,  1843;  Edwin  H.  Lothrop,  1844;  Alfred  H.  Hanscom, 
1845;  Isaac  E.  Crary,  1846;  George  W.  Peck,  1847;  Alexander  W.  Buel, 
1848;  Leander  Chapman,  1849;  Silas  G.  Harris,  1850;  Jefferson  G.  Thur- 
ber,  1851;  Daniel  G.  Quackenboss,  1853;  Cyrus  Lovell,  1855;  Byron  G. 
Stout,  1857;  Henry  A.  Shaw,  1859;  Dexter  Mussey,  1861;  Sullivan  M. 
Cutcheon,  1863;  Gilbert  E.  Read,  1865;  P.  Dean  Warner,  1867;  Jonathan 
J.  Woodman,  1869;  Charles  M.  Croswell,  1873. 

SECRETARIES   OF   STATE. 

Keutzing  Pritchette,  1835;  Randolph  Manning,  1838;  Thomas  Rowland, 
1840;  Robert  P.  Eldridge,  1842;  Gideon  O.  Whittemore,  1846;  George  W. 
Peck,  1848  ;  George  Redfield,  1850  ;  Charles  H.  Taylor,  1850  ;  William 
Graves,  1853;  John  McKinney,  1855;  Nelson  G.  Isbell,  1859;  James  B. 
Porter,  1861;  Oliver  L.  Spaulding,  1867;  Daniel  Striker,1871,  reflected  and 
now  in  office. 

STATE   TREASURERS. 

Henry  Howard,  1836;  Peter  Desnoyer;  1839;  Robert  Stuart,  1840; 
George  W.  Germain,  1841;  John  J.  Adam,  1842;  George  Redfield,  1845; 
George  B.  Cooper,  1846;  Banard  Whittemore,  1850;  Silas  M.  Holmes, 
1855;  John  McKinney,  1859;  John  Owen,  1860;  Ebenezer  O.  Grosvenor, 
1867;  Victory  P.  Collier,  1871,  reflected  and  now  in  office. 

ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. 

Daniel  Le  Roy,  1836;  Peter  Morey,  1837;  Zephaniah  Platt,  1841;  Elon 
Farnsworth,  1843;  Henry  N.  Walker,  1845;  Edward  Mundy,  1847;  George 
V.  N.  Lothrop,  1848;  William  Hall,  1851;  Jacob  M.  Howard,  1855;  Charles 
Upson,  1861;  Albert  Williams,  1863;  William  L.  Stoughton,  1867;  Dwight 
May,  1869;  Byron  D.  Ball,  1873. 

AUDITORS-GENERAL. 

Robert  Abbott,  1836;  Henry  Howard,  1839;  Eurotas  P.  Hastings,  1840; 
Alpheus  Felch,  1842;  Henry  L.  Whipple,  1842;  Charles  G.  Hammond, 
1842;  John  J.  Adam,  1845;  Digby  V.  Bell,  1846;  John  J.  Adam,  1848; 
John  Swegles,  jr.,  1850;  John  Swegles,  1853;  Whitney  Jones,  1855;  Daniel 
L.  Case,  1859;  Lang-ford  G.  Berry,  1861;  Emil  Anneke,  1863;  William 
Humphrey,  1867,  reelected  and  now  in  office. 

SUPERINTENDENTS   OF   PUBLIC   INSTRUCTION. 

John  D.  Pierce,  1838;  Franklin  Sawyer,  jr.,  1841;  Oliver  C.  Comstock, 
M.  D.,  1843  ;  Ira  Mayhew,  M.  A.,  1845;  Francis  W.  Shearman,  M.  A., 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  673 

184  ;  Ira  Mayhew,  M.  A.,  1855;  John  M.  Gregory,  M.  A.,  1858  ;  Oramel 
Hosford,  1865;  Daniel  B.  Briggs,  1873. 

PRESIDENTS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

Rev.  Henry  Philip  Tappan,  D.  D.  LL.  D.,  1852  ;  Rev.  Erastus  Otis 
Haven,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  1863;  James  Burrill  Angell,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  1871. 

JUDGES  OF  THE  TERRITORIAL   SUPREME  COURT. 

Augustus  B.  Woodward,  1805-24;  Frederick  Bates,  1805-8;  John  Griffin, 
1806-24 ;  James  Witherell,  1808-28  ;  Solomon  Sibley,  1824-36  ;  Henry 
Chipman,  1827-32 ;  William  Woodbridge,  1828-32 ;  George  Morell, 
1832-36;  Ross  Wilkins,  1832-36. 

CHANCELLORS  OF   THE   STATE. 

Elon  Farnsworth,  1837-42-46;  Randolph  Manning,  1842-46. 

JUDGES  OF  THE  SUPREME  COURT  UNDER  THE    CONSTITUTION   OF  1835. 

William  A.  Fletcher,  1836-42;  Epaphroditus  Ransom,  1836-47;  George 
Morell,  1836-42;  Charles  W.  Whipple,  1837-48  and  1852-55;  Alpheus 
Felch,  1842-45;  David  Goodwin,  1843-46;  Edward  Mundy,  1848-51;  War 
ner  Wing,  1845-52  and  1854-57;  George  Miles,  1846-50;  Sanford  M.  Green, 
1848-54  and  1856-58  ;  George  Martin,  1851-58  ;  Joseph  T.  Copeland, 
1852-57;  Samuel  T.  Douglas  1852-57;  David  Johnson,  1852-57;  Abner 
Pratt,  1851-57;  Nathaniel  Bacon,  1855-58  ;  E.  H  C.Wilson,  1856-58; 
Benjamin  F.  H.  Witherell,  Benjamin  F.  Graves,  Josiah  Turner,  Edwin 
Lawrence,  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  latter  part  of  1857. 

JUDGES  OF  SUPREME  COURT  UNDER  PRESENT  ORGANIZATION. 

George  Martin,  1858-68;  Randolph  Manning,  1858-64;  Isaac  P.  Chris- 
tiancy,  1858,  twice  reflected,  and  term  expires  with  1881;  James  V. 
Campbell,  1858,  twice  reflected,  and  term  expires  with  1879;  Thomas  M. 
Cooley,  1865,  reflected,  and  term  expires  with  1877;  Benjamin  F.  Graves, 
1868,  term  expires  with  1875. 

UNITED   STATES  SENATORS. 

John  Norvell,  1836-41;  Lucius  Lyon,  1836-40;  Augustus  8.  Porter, 
1840-45;  William  Woodbridge,  1841-47;  Lewis  Cass,  1845-48,  and 
1850-57;  Thomas  H.  Fitzgerald,  session  of  1848-49;  Alpheus  Felch, 
1847-53;  Charles  E.  Stuart,  1H53-59;  Zachariah  Chandler,  1857-75,  Kins 
ley  S.  Bingham,  1859-61;  Jacob  M.  Howard,  1861-71;  Thomas  W.  Ferry, 
1871-77. 

43 


674  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

REPRESENTATIVES  IN  CONGRESS. 

Isaac  E.  Crary,  1836-41;  Jacob  M.  Howard,  1841-43;  Lucius  Lyon, 
1843-45;  Robert  McClelland,  1843-49;  James  B.  Hunt,  1843-47;  John  S. 
Chipman,  1845-47;  Charles  E.  Stuart,  1847-49,  and  1851-53;  Kinsley  S. 
Bingham,  1849-51;  Alexander  W.  Buel,  1849-1851;  William  Sprague, 
1849-51;  James  L.  Conger,  1851-53;  Ebenezer  J.  Penniman,  1851-53; 
Samuel  Clark,  1853-55;  David  A.  Noble,  1853-55;  Hester  L.  Stevens, 
1853-55;  David  Stuart,  1853-55;  George  W.  Peck,  1855-57;  William  A. 
Howard,  1855-61;  Henry  Waldron,  1855-61,  and  1871-75;  David  S.  Wai- 
bridge,  1855-59;  D.  C.  Leach,  1857-61;  Francis  W.  Kellogg,  1859-65; 
B.  F.  Granger.  1861-63;  F.  C.  Beaman,  1861-71;  Rowland  E.  Trow- 
bridge,  1861-63,  and  1865-69;  Charles  Upson,  1863-69;  John  W.  Long- 
year,  1863-67;  Augustus  C.  Baldwin,  1863-65;  John  F.  Driggs,  1863-69; 
Thomas  W.  Ferry,  1865-71;  Austin  Blair,  1867-73;  William  L.  Stough- 
ton,  1869-73.  Omar  D.  Conger,  1869-75;  Randolph  Strickland,  1869-71; 
Jabez  G.  Sutherland,  1871-73;  Moses  W.  Field,  1873-75;  George  Willard, 
1873-75;  Julius  C.  Burrows,  1873-75;  Wilder  D.  Foster,  1873;  Josiah  W. 
Begole,  1873-75;  Nathan  B.  Bradley,  1873-75;  Jay  A.  Hubbell,  1873-75; 
W.  B.  Williams,  1873-75. 


POPULATION  OF  MICHIGAN. 

In  1820,  8,896;  in  1830,  31,639;  in  1840,  212,267;  in  1850,  397,659;  in 
1860,  749,113;  in  1870,  1,184,059,, 


HON.  JOSEPH   CAMPAU. 


MARQUIS  JACQUES  CAMPAU,  father  of  the  late  Hon.  Joseph  Campau, 
who  was  so  intimately  identified  with  the  earlier  days  of  the  city  of  Detroit, 
was  born  in  that  city  about  the  year  1730.  This  is  a  date  in  the  history  of 
Detroit  surrounded  with  the  greatest  ambiguity.  No  records,  either  in 
the  English  or  the  French  languages,  afford  any  information  touching  this 
period,  or  for  several  years  both  preceding  and  succeeding  this  date. 
However,  an  examination  of  the  papers  and  documents  preserved  by  the 
descendants  of  Mr.  Jacques  Campau  discloses  many  items  of  history  that 
would  have  otherwise  been  lost  to  all  generations.  A  digest  of  this  collec 
tion  of  papers  constitutes  the  following  interesting  piece  of  biography  and 
history:  The  father  of  Mr.  Jacques  Campau  must  have  accompanied  M. 
la  Motte  Cadillac  to  Detroit  in  1701,  being  one  of  that  original  company 
who  left  their  homes  and  united  their  hopes  with  -the  sanguine  la  Motte, 
to  establish  an  outpost  on  the  Detroit.  At  this  time  he  was  probably  not 
more  than  fifteen  or  twenty  years  of  age.  He  sustained  some  relations  to 
the  court  of  the  commandant,  or  "  Governor  of  the  Post,"  as  he  was  then 
called,  being  originally  appointed  as  Cadillac's  private  secretary.  Mr. 
Jacques  Campau,  the  father  of  the  Hon.  Joseph  Campau,  distinguished 
himself  in  the  battle  of  Abraham's  Plains,  and  attained  many  honors 
with  General  Montcalm  at  Quebec  in  1759. 

Mr.  Jacques  Campau  was  among  the  first  settlers  of  the  little  fort  who 
pushed  out  beyond  its  narrow  limits  to  establish  an  independent  hoine, 
and  the  engraving  of  his  house  and  the  little  church  which  he  afterwards 
erected,  which  is  presented  here,  affords  a  view  of  his  success.  The 
dwelling  represented  in  the  scene  was  erected  on  the  lot  now  known  as 
the  James  Campau  farm,  being  the  orignal  claim,  No.  91.  It  was  built 
about  the  year  1757,  and  was  the  birth-place  of  the  late  Hon.  Joseph 
Campau.  It  was  in  this  building  where  Captain  Rogers  and  his  patriotic 
soldiers  took  refuge  while  endeavoring  to  make  a  retreat  after  the  battle 
of  Bloody  Run.  He  entered  it  with  some  of  his  own  men,  while  many 
panic-stricken  regulars  broke  in  after  him  in  their  eagerness  to  gain  a 
temporary  shelter.  The  house  was  strong,  being  the  most  substantial 
dwelling  in  that  neighborhood,  and  the  women  of  the  place  had  crowded 
into  the  cellar  for  refuge.  While  some  of  the  soldiers  looked  in  great 
terror  for  a  place  of  concealment,  others  seized  upon  some  wine  in  one 
of  the  rooms,  and  drank  it  down  with  eager  thirst;  while  others,  again, 


676  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

piled  packs  of  furs,  furniture,  and  all  else  within  their  reach,  against  the 
windows,  to  serve  as  a  barricade.  "Panting  and  breathless,  their  faces 
moist  with  sweat  and  blackened  with  gunpowder,"  says  Parkrnan,  "  they 
thrust  their  muskets  through  the  openings  and  fired  out  upon  the  whoop 
ing  assailants.  At  intervals  a  bullet  flew  sharply  whizzing  through  a 
crevice,  striking  down  a  man,  perchance,  or  rapping  harmlessly  against 
the  partitions.  The  venerable  and  dauntless  old  Jacques  Campau,  the 
owner  of  the  house,  stood  guarding  a  trap  door,  to  prevent  the  frightened 
soldiers  and  Indians  from  seeking  shelter  among  the  women  in  the  cellar. 
A  ball  grazed  his  gray  head  and  buried  itself  in  the  wall,  where,  even  to 
the  day  the  building  was  demolished,  it  might  still  have  been  seen.  The 
screams  of  the  half-stifled  women  below,  the  quavering  war  whoops 
without,  the  shouts  and  curses  of  the  soldiers,  mingled  in  a  scene  of 
clamorous  confusion,  and  it  was  long  before  the  authority  of  Rogers 
'could  restore  order." 

Such  was  one  of  the  scenes  enacted  in  the  old  dwelling  of  Mr.  Jacques 
Campau.  It  has  rendered  the  house  interesting  in  history,  hence  we 
preserve  its  appearance. 

Mr.  Jacques  Campau  erected  the  little  church,  which  is  represented  in 
the  engraving  on  page  677  as  standing  near  his  own  house  on  the  Kiver 
Road,  about  the  year  1778.  It  was  temporarily  used  for  public  worship, 
and  stood  for  many  years  after  as  a  mark  of  his  benevolence. 

Mr.  Jacques  Campau  commanded  at  Detroit  previous  to  its  surrender 
by  Captain  Bellestre,  or  in  1758,  and  held  a  military  office  at  the  fort  on 
the  date  of  the  surrender.  His  wife,  and  mother  of  Major  Joseph  Cam 
pau  (Catharine  Manard),  was  born  in  Montreal.  She  was  married  to  Mr. 
Jacques  Campau,  and  removed  to  Detroit  about  seven  years  before  the 
surrender  of  the  post  to  the  English. 

Jean  Bte.  Campau,  uncle  of  the  late  Joseph  Campau,  was  grand  judge 
of  Detroit  in  1767. 

Major  Joseph  Campau  was  born  in  Detroit  on  the  20th  of  February, 
1769.  His  parents,  M.  Jacques  Campau  and  Catherine  Manard,  were  at 
this  time  residing  in  the  fort,  on  the  old  Campau  homestead,  which  dates 
its  origin  among  the  first  plots  of  land  ever  granted  by  M.  la  Motte, 
through  the  consent  of  the  Governor-General  of  Canada,  and  sanction  of 
the  King  of  France.  The  British  garrison,  consisting  partly  of  regulars 
and  partly  of  provincial  rangers,  was  then  quartered  in  a  well  built  range 
of  barracks  within  the  town  or  fort.  The  latter  contained  about  one 
hundred  and  twenty  small  houses.  Its  form  was  nearly  square,  and 
the  palisade  which  surrounded  it  was  about  twenty-five  feet  high.  At 
each  corner  was  a  wooden  bastion,  and  a  block-house  was  erected  over 
each  gateway.  The  houses  were  small,  chiefly  built  of  wood,  and  roofed 
with  bark  or  thatch  of  straw.  The  streets  were  extremely  narrow,  though 


678  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

a  wide  passage  way,  known  as  the  chemin  du  ronde,  surrounded  the  town, 
between  the  houses  and  the  palisade.  Beside  the  barracks,  the  only 
public  buildings  were  a  council-house  and  a  rude  little  church. 

Joseph  Campau  received  his  primary  education  from  his  devoted 
mother,  to  whose  great  care  and  anxiety  for  the  proper  Christian  train 
ing  and  early  education  of  her  son,  we  are  indebted  for  those  traits  of 
benevolence  and  great  leniency  of  which  Mr.  Campau's  life  was  after 
wards  characteristic.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  was  sent  to  school  at  Montreal, 
where  he  remained  five  years.  He  received  a  good  French  education, 
and  returned  to  Detroit  in  1786,  one  of  the  most  accomplished  Frenchmen 
of  the  old  aristocratic  town.  Nor  did  he  lack  any  of  those  qualities 
which  make  Frenchmen  attractive  in  society.  His  name  was  an  acknowl 
edged  title  to  French  nobility,  and  his  polished  manners  and  finished 
education  invested  him  with  much  interest. 

On  his  return  from  Montreal,  his  father  having  died  during  his  absence, 
he  entered  into  the  employment  of  Mr.  McGregor,  a  storekeeper  at  Sand 
wich,  Canada,  as  a  clerk.  He  remained  in  this  capacity  for  some  time, 
or  until  the  commencement  of  his  Maiden  enterprise.  Having  accumu 
lated  some  funds,  he  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  British  government 
to  erect  a  fort  at  Maiden.  He  proceeded  to  execute  this  work,  collecting 
a  vast  quantity  of  timber  for  the  buildings  of  the  fort,  when  a  freshet 
came  and  swept  it  all  away,  leaving  him  quite  penniless.  He  then 
returned  to  the  employment  of  Mr.  McGregor,  and  shortly  afterwards 
entered  into  the  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account.  From  this 
period  dated  his  success.  -  He  generally  procured  his  goods  in  Montreal, 
but  was  the  first  merchant  of  Detroit  who  purchased  goods  in  Boston 
and  transported  them  to  the  western  settlements.  Joseph  Campau  was 
indeed  the  great  pioneer  merchant  of  Michigan.  He  was  not  only  the 
leading  spirit  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  his  day,  but  through  almost 
unparalleled  success — the  result  of  his  own  great  energy  and  exemplary 
integrity — he  accumulated  a  large  fortune,  and  was,  at  an  early  day,  the 
most  extensive  dealer  in  Detroit. 

As  early  as  1786  he  commenced  buying  and  selling  real  estate.  In  this 
business  Mr.  Joseph  Campau  rendered  his  country  an  invaluable  service. 
It  was  his  rule  to  purchase  uncultivated  lands,  erect  comfortable  dwell 
ings  upon  them,  and  dispose  of  the  lots  after  they  had  been  prepared  for 
the  reception  of  civilization.  On  almost  all  these  lots  he  placed  buildings 
costing  from  $3,000  to  $4,000,  and  paid,  on  the  average,  $50  an  acre  for 
clearing  the  land.  He  displayed  almost  matchless  enterprise  in  this  work, 
providing  attractive  homes  for  hundreds  of  the  early  settlers  of  Detroit 
and  Michigan.  It  was  his  custom  to  either  sell  or  rent  these  places,  after 
clearing  a  large  portion  of  the  land  and  placing  comfortable  dwellings 
upon  it.  His  customers  were,  for  the  most  part,  poor  people,  who,  with 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


679 


but  a  few  dollars,  had  come  to  develop  a  home  among  the  pioneers  of  the 
northwest.  Mr.  Carnpau's  books  show  that  many  were  the  tenants  who 
depended  upon  his  charity  for  a  home.  When  times  were  hard  and 
money  was  scarce,  and  rents  or  mortgages  came  due,  it  was  Mr.  Campau's 
pride  to  visit  his  debtors  and  encourage  them  with  words  of  good  cheer, 
assuring  them  that  the  kind  Providence  who  had  intrusted  so  much 


HON.  JOSEPH  OAMPAU. 

property  to  his  care  and  disposal  had  taught  him  to  "  do  unto  others  as  he 
would  that  others  should  do  unto  him."  In  this  way  many  an  aching 
mother's  heart  was  made  glad,  and  hundreds  of  little  children  were  per 
mitted  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  a  father's  industry,  that,  with  a  less  benevo 
lent  master  than  Mr.  Campau,  they  would  have  suffered  for.  Hundreds 
still  live,  and  thousands  have  gone  to  their  graves,  who  have  borne  testi- 


680  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

mony  to  the  great  philanthropy  and  willing  chanty  of  this  good  old 
pioneer  and  patriarchial  citizen.  His  books  show  that  there  was  due  him 
at  one  time  two  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars,  of  which  he  never  collected 
one  cent.  Besides  this,  he  left  an  estate  worth  over  three  millions.  He 
had  seventy-four  farms  or  plantations,  the  bulk  of  which  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  Detroit. 

Mr.  Oampau  also  entered  very  largely  into  stock  raising,  and  stocked 
all  his  farms  with  horses,  cattle  and  sheep,  renting  them  with  everything 
necessary  for  agricultural  pursuits.  Some  of  his  tenants  remained  on 
his  farms  for  two  or  three  generations,  and  many  without  consideration 
therefor.  He  was  the  largest  "Norman  horse"  owner  in  the  northwest. 
These  animals,  originally  from  Arabia,  were  imported  from  Normandy, 
in  France,  and,  thriving  greatly  in  this  country,  produced  the  present 
popular  breed  of  horses  for  which  Canada  and  the  northwest  have  become 
renowned.  At  one  time  Mr.  Campau  owned  over  five  hundred  horses. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  Britannic  as  early  as  1798, 
and,  in  many  respects,  was  the  leading  merchant  of  the  northwest  for 
many  years  subsequent  to  that  period.  In  1812  he  was  connected  with 
the  Northwestern  Fur  Company,  with  John  Jacob  Astor,  James  Abbott 
and  J.  G.  Schwarz.  Mr.  Schwarz  afterwards  became  United  States  Min 
ister  to  Vienna,  and  more  recently,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  Pope  Pius 
IX.  In  his  connection  with  the  Northwestern  Fur  Company,  Mr.  Campau 
was  remarkably  successful,  both  for  himself  and  for  the  company. 

In  1802  Mr.  Campau  was  elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  city  of 
Detroit,  and,  although  he  was  adverse  to  holding  public  offices,  in  the 
course  of  his  useful  life  he  was  always  exerting  a  valuable  influence  for 
the  public  good.  We  find  him  identified  with  every  public  improvement 
of  his  day,  and  in  many  things  he  assumed  a  leading  position,  freely 
expending  his  own  means  to  further  the  common  welfare.  In  1806  he 
erected,  at  his  own  expense,  the  first  school-house  that  ever  appeared  in 
Detroit. 

Mr.  Campan  was  not  only  active  and  liberal  in  his  work  to  promote  the 
educational  interests  of  his  native  city,  but  assumed  much  responsibility 
for  the  cause  of  the  church.  In  1806  he  contracted  for  the  building  of 
St  Ann's  church. 

In  1808  he  was  married  to  Adelaide  Dequindre,  sister  of  the  late  Major 
Antoine  Dequindre,  and  daughter  of  Antoine  Pontchartrain  Dequindre 
and  Catherine  Desriviere  Lomoinodiere.  His  brother-in-law,  Major 
Antoine  Dequindre,  referred  to  here,  is  the  same  who  distinguished  him 
self  at  the  battle  of  the  Monguagon,  in  1812,  and  who  received  the  fol 
lowing  complimentary  joint  resolution  from  the  State  Legislature  for 
gallant  services  rendered  on  that  occasion : 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN.  681 

Resolved,  By  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  Michigan, 
That  the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  Major  Antoine  Dequindre,  and  the  company 
of  volunteers  under  his  command,  and  also  of  the  other  Michigan  volunteers,  at  the 
battle  of  Monguagon,  in  August,  eighteen  hundred  and  twelve,  are  held  in  high 
estimation  by  this  Legislature,  and  should  ever  be  cherished  in  the  remembrance 
of  the  people  Qf  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Resolved,  That  the  Governor  be  requested  to  transmit  a  copy  of  these  resolutions 
to  Major  Dequindre. 

JOHN  BIDDLE,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 
THOMAS  J.  DRAKES,  President  of  the  Senate  pro  tern. 
Approved  April  12, 1841. 

J.  WRIGHT  GORDON. 

(A  TRUE  COPY.) 

THOMAS  ROWLAND,  Secretary  of  State. 

In  1809,  Mr.  Campau,  being  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  all  who 
knew  him,  was  appointed  Major  over  the  militia  by  Governor  William 
Hull.  The  original  document,  of  which  the  following  is  a  true  copy,  is 
preserved  to  this  day: 

"  WILLIAM  HULL,  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  TERRITORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 

"  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  may  come : 

"Be  it  known  that,  reposing  special  trust  in  the  patriotism,  valor,  fidelity  and 
abilities  of  Joseph  Campau,  I  have  appointed  him  Major  of  the  First  Regiment  of 
Militia  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  to  take  rank  as  such.  He  is,  therefore,  care 
fully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of  Major,  by  doing  and  performing  all 
manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging;  and  I  do  strictly  charge  and  require  all  offi 
cers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  to  be  obedient  to  his  orders  as  major,  and  he  is 
to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and  directions  from  time  to  time  as  he  shall 
receive  from  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  the  Governor  of  the 
Territory  of  Michigan  for  the  time  being,  or  the  general  or  other  superior  officers  set 
over  him  according  to  law,  and  military  rule  and  discipline.  This  commission  to 
continue  in  force  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Governor  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan 
for  the  time  being.  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  caused  these  letters  to  be  made 
patent,  and  the  seal  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan  to  be  thereunto  affixed. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  at  Detroit,  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  the  Twenty- 
fourth  day  of  February,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nine,  and  of  the  Indepen 
dence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  thirty-third. 

[Signed]  WILLIAM  HULL. 

[SEAL.] 

"  By  the  Governor, 

"  REUBEN  ATWATER, 

"  Secretary  Michigan  Territory." 

There  were  no  blank  forms  used  by  Governor  Hull  in  those  days;  and 
the  above  is  said  to  be  in  the  handwriting  of  the  general.  It  was  written 
just  about  four  years  after  Hull's  appointment  to  the  government,  and  at 
a  time  when  a  bitter  war  with  the  various  Indian  tribes  in  the  vicinity 
of  Detroit  seemed  inevitable. 

Two  years  previous  to  the  date  of  this  commission,  General  Hull 
appointed  Mr.  Campau  captain  in  the  regiment  over  which  he  was  after- 


682  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

wards  called  to  act  as  major.    Following  is  a  true  copy  of  the  commis 
sion,  which  is  also  from  the  pen  of  Governor  Hull: 

"  TERRITORY  or  MICHIGAN,  TO  WIT  : 

"  WILLIAM  HULL,  GOVERNOR  or  THE  TERRITORY  or  MICHIGAN. 

"  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come :  . 

"Be  it  known  that,  reposing  special  trust  and  confidence  in  the  patriotism,  valor, 
fidelity  and  ability  of  Joseph  Campau,  I  have  appointed  him  captain  in  the  First 
Regiment  of  Militia  in  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  to  take  rank  from  the  18th  day  of 
September,  1805.  He  is,  therefore,  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the  duty  of 
that  office,  by  doing  and  performing  all  manner  of  things  thereunto  belonging;  and 
I  do  strictly  charge  and  require  all  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  to  be 
obedient  to  his  orders  as  captain ;  and  he  is  to  observe  and  follow  such  orders  and 
directions  as  he  shall  from  time  to  time  receive  from  the  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  or  the  Governor  of  Michigan  for  the  time  being,  or  general  or 
other  superior  officers  set  over  him  according  to  law  and  military  discipline.  This 
commission  to  continue  in  force  during  the  pleasure  of  the  Governor  of  Michigan 
for  the  time  being.  In  testimony  whereof  I  have  caused  these  letters  to  be  made 
patent,  and  the  seal  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan  to  be  hereto  affixed. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  at  the  city  of  Detroit,  this  twelfth  day  of  August,  eighteen 
hundred  and  seven,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the 

thirty-first. 

[Signed]  WILLIAM  HULL. 

[SEAL.] 

"  By  the  Governor, 

"  STANLEY  GRISWOLD, 
"  Secretary  Territory  of  Michigan." 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Hon.  Joseph  Campau  was  identified  with 
the  militia  of  the  Territory  of  Michigan,  from  its  earliest  organization, 
through  most  of  its  struggles  and  triumphs.  In  July,  1812,  when  the 
military  forces  of  Detroit  were  astir,  preparing  for  the  march  to  the 
River  Raisin,  the  following  order  was  addressed  to  Major  Joseph  Cam 
pau: 
"  Major  Joseph  Campau : 

"  SIR— I  am  directed  by  the  acting  commander-in-chief  to  reqiiire  you  to  order  the 
whole  of  the  militia  of  the  First  Regiment,  residing  in  the  upper  settlement,  to 
march  immediately  to  this  place,  and  to  re-organize  on  the  common,  armed  and 
equipped  according  to  law. 

[Signed]  "JAMES  WATSON, 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Aide-de-Camp. 
"  HEADQUARTERS  AT  DETROIT,  ) 
"  July  2, 1812."  | 

A  speedy  termination  of  difficulties  at  the  River  Raisin  made  it  unneces 
sary  for  the  militia  to  proceed  to  battle.  Therefore,  Major  Campau  dis 
missed  his  little  army  until  further  orders  calling  them  into  action  should 
be  necessary. 

Although  Mr.  Campau  rendered  his  State  considerable  service  in  mili 
tary  affairs,  his  greatest  and  most  beneficial  work  was  principally  that  of 
establishing  and  promoting  the  commerce  of  Detroit.  In  1809  he 


•  HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  683 

erected,  and  for  many  years  after  operated  a  large  distillery.  This  enter 
prise  gave  profitable  employment  to  many  needy  colonists,  and  assisted 
to  inaugurate  activity  in  manufacturing  pursuits  in  the  infant  city. 
Shortly  after  this  period  his  business  affairs  became  eminently  prosper 
ous.  In  the  same  year  he  conducted  ten  branch  stores  in  the  Territory 
of  Michigan.  He  also  assisted  in  establishing  the  banking  business  in 
this  State,  being  one  of  the  original  stockholders  in  the  Territorial  Bank, 
of  which  his  nephew,  General  John  R.  Williams,  was  president.  General 
Williams,  who  was  the  first  mayor  of  Detroit,  was  also  successful  in 
business.  As  early  as  1818  he  operated  a  cabinet  shop,  silversmith  shop, 
blacksmith  shop,  bakery,  a  butcher  stall  in  the  old  market,  a  grist  mill 
propelled  by  wind,  a  saw  mill  and  a  brick  yard.  At  an  early  day  Mr. 
Williams  became  associated  with  Mr.  Campau  in  many  projects,  all  of 
which  promoted  the  public  good  not  less  than  their  own  individual  inter 
ests.  In  1831  they  purchased  the  Oakland  Chronicle,  and  called  it  the 
Democratic  Free  Press,  thus  firmly  establishing  the  present  Detroit  Free 
Press,  one  of  the  leading  daily  journals  of  the  northwest.  In  1835  Mr. 
Campau  was  an  extensive  stockholder  in  the  Detroit  and  St.  Joseph  Rail 
road,  now  the  Michigan  Central.  He  also  aided  materially  in  the  erection 
and  establishment  of  Detroit  College,  which  was  built  in  the  year  1817. 

Mr.  Campau's  great  business  energy  was  equaled  only  by  his  benevo 
lence.  He  gave  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  nephews  and  nieces,  a  good 
education;  many  of  them  he  sent  to  Montreal  for  that  purpose,  where 
superior  educational  advantages  wTere  attainable.  Nor  was  he  satisfied 
until  he  had  secured  to  his  brothers  a  profitable  business  education  and 
established  them  successfully  in  business.  In  1807  Mr.  Campau  sent 
Robert  McNiff  and  John  R.  Williams  as  cadets  to  West  Point,  thus  pre 
paring  these  young  men  for  the  success  that  afterwards  distinguished 
them  as  useful  citizens  of  Detroit. 

It  was  his  rule,  on  visiting  Montreal  or  Boston,  to  hold  out  such 
inducements  to  mechanics  and  tradesmen  as  would  secure  their  company 
on  his  return.  He  always  furnished  them  with  employment  on  their 
arrival,  and  in  this  and  other  ways  greatly  increased  the  population  and 
business  of  the  settlement. 

But  it  must  not  be  supposed  that  in  Mr.  Campau's  day  it  was  "  all  work 
and  no  play."  The  little  colony  had  its  society  enjoyments.  These,  too, 
were  conducted  in  a  real  aristocratic  style.  They  had  their  balls,  their 
theatres,  dances,  and  indulged  in  all  the  fashionable  recreations  for 
which  their  country  is  popularly  known.  The  following  is  a  fac-simile 
of  a  card  of  invitation,  written  in  French,  sent  to  Mr.  Campau  in  1798: 


if  4 


GENERAL   HISTORY   OP  THE 


JClitaiy,  as  well  as  civic  entertainments  were  encouraged.  Many  were 
flhe  wine  aaiHnaB  and  balls  given  by  the  officers  of  the  line  and  staff  in 
1798.  These  were  always  conducted  in  the  Council  House,  which  stood 
within  the  stockade,  being  the  same  building  which  Pontiac  afterwards 
^nffffd  with  MB  band  of  conspirators,  on  the  memorable  morning;  when 
IBB  fg*""*^*  conspiracy  was  overthrown.  The  following  card  is  an 
engraving  from  the  original  invitation  received  by  Mr.  Joseph  Campau  in 
1798,  asking  the  honor  of  his  attendance  at  one  of  these  military  balls : 


HISTORY   OF    MICHIGAN. 


6*0 


The  little  town  had  its  private  theatre  as  early  as  1819.    At  this  dote 

we  find  its  managers  bestowing  their  compliments  upon  Mr.  Campau  in 
the  following  card: 


In  1821  the  little  theatre  was  still  flourishing.  Mr.  Stockton  lad 
retired  from  its  management,  and  Messrs.  Mackay,  Davis  and  Brooks  had 
taken  his  place.  These  gentlemen  re-fitted  the  theatre  building,  and  con 
ducted  it  on  a  more  popular  basis.  On  the  occasion  of  their  grand  open 
ing  in  1821,  Mr.  Campau  was  tendered  the  following  card: 


*> 

C/p 


/  • 

w^ 


' 

** 

s 


&~7<^ 


J 


Among  Ms  old  papers  still  preserred  are  many  others.    The  following 
is  a  copy  of  one: 


686  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 


Mr.  Joseph  Campau  was  a  man  of  very  liberal  views.  He  made  no 
distinction  in  creed  or  nationality,  was  generous  and  charitable  to  all 
with  whom  business  brought  him  in  contact.  He  was  a  man  of  few 
words,  unassuming  in  manners,  and  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school.  But 
with  all,  he  was  very  enterprising,  and  evinced  great  perseverance  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  various  projects  which  he  undertook.  An  instance 
showing  his  force  of  energy  is  related,  as  follows:  His  esteemed  friend, 
Mr.  Solomon  Sibley,  was  at  one  time  a  candidate  for  Circuit  Judge,  and 
on  the  day  of  election  the  opposition  took  possession  of  the  polls,  and 
surrounded  it  with  bullies,  for  the  purpose  of  intimidating  the  friends  of 
Mr.  Sibley.  Early  in  the  day  it  was  ascertained  that  this  action  was 
working  with  great  effect  against  him.  Mr.  Campau,  on  learning  the 
state  of  matters,  ordered  four  strong  men  to  procure  a  large  basket,  and 
carry  Mr.  Sibley  from  his  residence  to  the  polling  booth.  The  men 
obeyed  his  order,  proceeded  to  Mr.  Sibley's  house,  where  he  had  • 
remained  all  day,  through  delicacy,  put  him  into  the  basket,  we>?ms  wfe^s, 
and  carried  him  on  their  shoulders  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  Mr.  Sibley 
was  triumphantly  elected,  and  the  happy  result  was  largely  due  to  the 
radical  plans  of  Mr.  Campau. 

He  was  careful  to  encourage  all  worthy  enterprises.  The  first  debating 
society  in  Detroit,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  member,  held  their 
meetings  in  his  office.  His  old  friends,  General  Cass,  Major  Biddle, 
Major  Rowland,  Judge  John  McDonnell,  Major  Kearsley,  Judge  Chip- 
man,  and  others,  were  also  members  of  the  same  society,  and  night  after 
night  mingled  together  in  the  heat  of  debate  in  the  little  office  of  Joseph 
Campau. 

He  ransomed  many  white  men  who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
cruel  and  treacherous  Indians.  On  May  14,  1813,  they  captured  an 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


687 


American  by  the  name  of  James  Hardan,  with  the  view  of  getting  a  ran 
som,  and,  failing  in  that,  to  kill  him.  Mr.  Campau,  having  learned  the 
facts  from  the  Indians  who  were  passing  through  Detroit,  on  their  way 
to  Mackinac,  and,  taking  compassion  on  the  captive,  opened  negotia 
tions  with  his  persecutors,  and  purchased  his  freedom  from  Micksonenis, 
an  Indian  from  Saginaw,  for  a  considerable  sum.  The  man  gave  Mr. 
Carnpau  his  note  for  the  amount,  which  was  never  paid.  This  is  one 
case  out  of  many  that  might  be  related  showing  to  what  extent  Mr.  Cam 
pau  exerted  himself  for  the  welfare  of  those  around  him.  The  store 
operated  by  Mr.  Campau  was  located  on  the  homestead  lot,  in  Detroit, 


THE  JOSEPH  CAMPAU  RESIDENCE. 

and  was  used  by  him  for  mercantile  purposes  and  also  a  residence,  from 
1796  to  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1805  the  house  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  the  building  still  standing  on  the  old  foundation,  at  No.  140  Jeffer 
son  avenue,  was  immediately  erected,  at  a  cost  of  $7,000.  He  subse 
quently  built,  on  the  river  in  the  rear  of  the  homestead,  a  storehouse  and  a 
dock  for  the  accommodation  of  his  batteaux,  of  wrhich  he  had  several 
in  the  Montreal  trade.  The  residence,  which  in  its  early  days  was  one 
of  the  finest  buildings  on  St.  Ann  street  (now  Jefferson  avenue),  is  repre 
sented  here  as  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  now  standing  in  Detroit. 

Major  Joseph  Campau's  homestead  is  on  the  lot  where  the  headquarters 
of  M.  de  la  Motte  Cadillac  were  originally  situated. 


688  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Among  other  things  which  indicate  the  advanced  ideas  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Campau,  was  the  leading  position  which  he  took  in  establishing  Free 
Masonry  in  the  northwest.  The  following  card  of  dimit  shows  his 
connection  with  old  Zion  Lodge,  No.  10 : 

To  whom  it  may  concern : 

These  are  to  certify  that  Brother  Joseph  Campau  has  been  regularly  made,  passed 
and  raised  to  the  sublime  degree  of  a  Master  Mason,  in  due  form,  in  late  Zion  Lodge, 
No.  10,  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  has  behaved,  during  his  stay  with  us, 
Zion  Lodge,  No.  l,as  becomes  a  true  and  faithful  Mason,  and  as  such  we  recommend 
him  to  all  regular  Lodges  and  Brethren  throughout  the  world,  after  due  trial  and 
examination. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seals,  in  our  Lodge  Room,  at  Detroit,  the  first  day 
[SEI.L.]       of  May,  1809,  and  of  Masonry  5809. 

W.  H.  SCOTT,  Worshipful  Master. 
GEO.  MCDOUGALL,  /Senior  Warden. 
JAMES  ABBOTT,  Secretary.  J.  EASTMAN,  Junior  Warden. 

After  a  sojourn  of  nearly  a  century  in  the  city  of  Detroit,  the  great 
and  good  pioneer  passed  on  to  join  his  compeers  and  receive  the  rewards 
of  his  Christian  life.  He  died  on  the  23d  of  July,  1863,  in  the  ninety- 
fifth  year  of  his  age.  On  the  27th  of  the  same  month  he  was  buried, 
with  Masonic  honors,  in  Elniwood  Cemetery.  His  funeral  is  said  to 
have  been  the  largest  ever  witnessed  in  Detroit.  It  was  attended  by  the 
entire  Masonic  fraternity,  the  municipal  officers,  members  of  the  Detroit 
bar,  the  Lafayette  Association,  and  an  immense  concourse  of  citizens. 
Col.  Levi  Cook,  Col.  Dibble,  Hon.  Jacob  M.  Howard,  Hon.  Robert 
McClelland,  Peter  Desnoyers,  Esq.,  Thomas  Lewis,  Esq.,  Hon.  A.  D. 
Eraser,  Judge  H.  L.  Chipman,  Judge  Shubael  Conant,  John  Palmer, 
Esq.,  E.  B.  Ward,  Esq.,  Hon.  N.  B.  Carpenter,  John  Roberts,  Esq.,  and 
Dr.  J.  L.  "Whiting,  acted  as  pall  bearers.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  H.  Pad 
dock,  of  Christ  Church,  Detroit,  preached  the  funeral  sermon,  in  which 
he  paid  a  suitable  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased. 


GRAND   RAPIDS. 

Grand  Rapids  is  located  on  Grand  river — the  largest  inland  stream  in 
the  State — about  forty  miles  from  its  mouth,  and  at  the  head  of  naviga 
tion.  Its  site  is  one  of  great  natural  beauty,  lying  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  between  the  high  bluffs  that  stand  nearly  two  miles  apart,  and  from 
whose  summits  the  eye  takes  in  a  beautiful  panorama  of  bill,  vale  and 
river,  with  all  the  streets  of  the  busy  city  laid  out  like  a  map  at  the  feet 
of  the  beholder. 

Grand  Rapids  contains  a  population  (August,  1873)  of  23,000,  and  it  is 
the  county  seat  of  Kent  county,  which  county  was  organized  in  the  year 
1836.  In  point  of  population  it  is  the  second  city  in  size  next  to  Detroit, 
in  this  State,  and  is  to  Western  Michigan,  in  point  of  location,  business 
and  influence,  what  the  City  of  the  Straits  is  to  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State. 

It  was  incorporated  in  1850,  and  its  growth  has  been  healthy  and  vigor 
ous.  The  city  is  located  on  both  sides  of  Grand  river — which  is  900  feet 
wide  at  this  point,  running  over  a  fall  in  one  mile  of  twenty  feet  of  rocky 
bed— from  which  rapid  current  its  name  is  derived. 

The  river  at  this  point  runs  nearly  south,  but  soon  after  leaving  the 
city  resumes  its  general  westerly  direction  On  the  west  side  of  the  river 
the  ground  is  nearly  level  back  to  the  bluffs  ;  on  the  east  side  there  were 
smaller  hills  between  the  bank  and  the  bluffs,  the  leveling  of  which  has 
cost,  and  is  yet  to  cost,  large  sums  of  money.  These  bluffs,  which  nearly 
surround  the  city,  are  being  rapidly  covered  with  elegant  residences  and 
substantial  homes,  from  which  beautiful  views  of  the  city  are  obtained 
and  at  a  score  of  points.  Speaking  of  the  locality  of  Grand  Rapids,  a 
writer,  as  far  back  as  1837,  in  one  of  our  city — then  village— papers,  used 
the  following  language  : 

"  Though  young  in  its  improvements,  the  site  of  this  village  has  long 
been  known  and  esteemed  for  its  natural  advantages.  It  was  here  that 
the  Indian  traders  long  since  made  their  grand  depot.  It  was  at  this 
point  that  the  missionary  herald  established  his  institution  of  learning — 
taught  the  forest  child  the  beauties  of  civilization  and  inestimable  benefits 
of  the  Christian  religion.  This  has  been  the  choicest,  dearest  spot  to  the 
unfortunate  Indian,  and  now  is  the  pride  of  the  white  man.  Like  other 
vil'ages  of  the  west,  its  transition  from  the  savage  to  a  civilized  state  has 
been  as  sudden  as  its  prospects  are  now  flattering. 
44 


690  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF    THE   STATES. 

"  Who  would  have  believed,  to  have  visited  this  place  two  years  since, 
when  it  was  only  inhabited  by  a  few  families,  most  of  whom  were  of 
French  origin,  a  people  so  eminent  for  exploring  the  wilds  and  meander 
ing  rivers,  that  this  place  would  now  contain  its  twelve  hundred  inhabi 
tants  ?  Who  would  have  imagined  that  this  rapid  would  have  been  the 
improvement  of  this  romantic  place.  The  rapidity  of  its  settlement  is 
beyond  the  most  visionary  anticipation;  but  its  location,  its  advantages, 
and  its  clime,  were  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  observing  mind  that  nothing 
but  the  frown  of  Providence  could  blast  its  prospects! 

' '  The  river  upon  which  this  tow^n  is  situated  is  one  of  the  most  important 
and  delightful  to  be  found  in  the  country — not  important  and  beautiful 
alone  for  its  clear,  silver-like  water  winding  its  way  through  a  romantic 
valley  of  some  hundred  miles,  but  for  its  width  and  depth,  its  suscepti 
bility  for  steam  navigation,  and  the  immense  hydraulic  power  afforded  at 
this  point. 

' '  We  feel  deeply  indebted  to  our  Milwaukee  friends  for  their  lucid  des 
cription  of  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from  a  connection  of  the  waters 
of  this  river  with  those  of  Detroit,  by  canal  or  railroad.  A  canal  is 
nearly  completed  around  the  rapids  at  this  place  sufficiently  large  to 
admit  boats  to  pass  up  and  down  with  but  little  detention.  Several 
steamboats  are  now  preparing  to  commence  regular  trips  from  Lyons,  at 
the  mouth  of  Maple  river,  to  this  place,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles,  and 
from  this  to  Grand  Haven,  a  distance  of  thirty-five  or  forty  miles;  thence 
to  Milwaukee  and  Chicago. 

"  Thus  the  village  of  Grand  Rapids,  with,  a  navigable  stream — a  water 
power  of  twenty-five  feet  fall — an  abundance  of  crude  building  materials 
— stone  of  excellent  quality — pine,  oak  and  other  timber  in  immense 
quantities  within  its  vicinity,  can  but  flourish — can  but  be  the  Rochester 
of  Michigan!  The  basement  story  of  an  extensive  mill,  one  hundred 
and  sixty  by  forty  feet,  is  now  completed;  a  part  of  the  extensive 
machinery  is  soon  to  be  put  in  operation.  There  are  now  several  dry 
goods  and  grocery  stores,  some  three  or  four  public  houses,  one  large 
church  erected  and  soon  to  be  finished  in  good  style,  upon  the  expense  of 
a  single  individual,  who  commenced  business  a  few  years  ago  by  a  small 
traffic  with  the  Indians.  Such  is  the  encouragement  to  western  pioneers ! 
The  village  plat  is  upon  the  bold  bank  of  a  river,  extending  back  upon 
an  irregular  plain,  some  eighty  to  a  hundred  rods,  to  rising  bluffs,  from 
the  base  and  sides  of  which  some  of  the  most  pure,  crystal-like  fountains 
of  water  burst  out  in  boiling  springs,  pouring  forth  streams  that  murmur 
over  their  pebbly  bottoms,  at  once  a  delight  to  the  eye  and  an  invaluable 
luxury  to  the  thirsty  palate. 

"  New  England  may  surpass  this  place  with  her  lofty  mountains,  but  not 
with  her  greatest  boast,  purity  and  clearness  of  water.  The  soil  is  sandy 


692  GENERAL    HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

and  mostly  dry.  The  town  is  delightful,  whether  you  view  it  from  the 
plain  upon  the  banks  of  the  river,  or  from  the  bluffs  that  overlook  the 
whole  surrounding  country.  To  ascend  these  bluffs  you  take  a  gradual 
rise  to  the  height  of  a  hundred  feet,  when  the  horizon  only  limits  the 
extent  of  vision.  The  scenery  to  an  admirer  of  beautiful  landscape  is 
truly  picturesque  and  romantic.  Back  east  of  the  town  is  seen  a  wide 
spread  plain  of  burr  oak,  at  once  easy  to  cultivate  and  inviting  to  the 
agriculturist.  Turning  westward,  especially  at  the  setting  of  the  sun, 
you  behold  the  most  enchanting  prospect — the  din  of  the  ville  below— 
the  broad  sheet  of  water  murmuring  over  the  rapids — the  sunbeams 
dancing  upon  its  swift  gliding  ripples — the  glassy  river  at  last  losing 
itself  in  its  distant  meanderings,  presents  a  scenery  that  awakes  the  most 
lively  emotions. 

"  It  is  from  this  point,  too,  that  you  can  see  in  the  distance  the  evergreen 
tops  of  the  lofty  pine  waving  in  majesty  above  the  sturdy  oak,  the  beech 
and  maple,  presenting  to  the  eye  a  wild,  undulating  plain,  with  its  thou 
sand  charms.  Such  is  the  location,  the  beauties  and  the  advantages  of 
this  youthful  town.  The  citizens  are  of  the  most  intelligent,  enterprising 
and  industrious  character.  Their  buildings  are  large,  tasty  and  hand 
somely  furnished — the  clatter  of  mallet  and  chisel— the  clink  of  the 
hammer — the  many  newly  raised  and  recently  covered  frames — and  the 
few  skeleton  boats  upon  the  wharves  of  the  river,  speak  loudly  for  the 
enterprise  of  the  place!  Mechanics  of  all  kind  find  abundant  employ, 
and  reap  a  rich  reward  for  their  labor.  Village  property  advances  in 
value,  and  the  prospect  of  wealth  is  alike  flattering  to  all !  What  the 
result,  of  such  advantages  and  prospects  will  be,  time  alone  must  deter 
mine. 

"  But  a  view  of  this  place  and  vicinity,  where  we  find  a  rich  and  fertile 
soil,  watered  with  the  best  of  springs,  and  enjoying  as  we  do  a  salubrious 
climate,  a  healthful  atmosphere,  and  the  choicest  gifts  of  a  benign  Bene 
factor,  would  satisfy  almost  any  one  that  this  will  soon  be  a  bright  star 
in  the  constellation  of  western  villages.  Such,  gentle  reader,  is  a  faint 
description  of  the  place  from  which  our  paper  hails— from  which  we 
hope  will  emanate  matter  as  pleasing  and  interesting  as  the  town  is 
beautiful  and  inviting. " 

Thirty-six  years  have  passed  away  since  the  foregoing  was  written,  and 
the  visitor  now  beholds  a  lively,  bustling  and  active  city,  full  of  energy 
and  enterprise  and  doing  an  amount  of  manufacturing  and  mercantile 
trading  truly  surprising.  There  are  three  daily  newspapers,  the  Eagle, 
Democrat  and  Times,  representing  the  Republican  and  Democratic  parties, 
and  the  latter  Independent.  There  are  also  several  weekly  papers,  one  of 
which  is  printed  exclusively  in  the  Holland  language.  There  are  twenty- 
three  organized  churches,  and  some  of  the  edifices  are  of  a  superior  kind 


HISTORY   OP  MICHIGAN. 


693 


in  point  of  architectural  design.  The  First  Congregational  is  a  gothic 
building,  elegant  in  finish,  costing  $65,000.  St.  Marks,  Episcopal,  one 
of  the  old  church  edifices  in  the  city,  has  lately  been  enlarged  and  im 
proved  at  a  cost  of  $30,000,  and  is  one  of  the  largest  gothic  edifices  west 


HON.  H.  M.  LOOK. 

HENTCY  M  LOOK  was  born  at  Hadley,  Michigan,  October  27, 1837.  His 
ancestors  were  from  Scotland,  and  settled  on  the  island  of  Martha's 
Vineyard,  in  1758.  They  removed  thence  to  Massachusetts,  while  it  was 
yet  a  province  of  Great  Britain,  and  bore  an  active  part  in  the  war  of 
the  revolution,  two  members  of  the  family  losing  their  lives  in  that 
struggle— one  while  leading  a  charge  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  the 
other  while  a  prisoner  of  war. 

His  parents  were  both  natives  of  New  York,  and  settled  in  the  (then) 
Territory  of  Michigan  in  1834.  Having  received  a  thorough  education, 
including  an  extensive  course  of  historical  and  classical  reading,  he  began 
the  study  of  law  in  1857,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Michigan,  in  November,  1859,  and  to  the  Circuit  Court  of  the 
United  States,  in  1867.  He  is  still  in  the  active  and  successful  practice 
of  his  profession. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Michigan  in  1865  and  1866; 
prosecuting  attorney  for  Oakland  county  in  1871  and  1872;  city  attorney 


694  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP  THE   STATES. 

of  Detroit,  in  Michigan,  worth  $60,000.  The  First  Methodist  has  a  fine 
structure  in  the  Roman  style,  elaborately  finished  and  furnished,  costing 
$45,000.  The  Baptist  Society  are  erecting  a  very  costly  gothic  church 
which  will  be  a  a  superb  contribution  to  the  many  beautiful  houses  of 
worship  in  the  city,  its  estimated  price,  when  completed,  being  $80,000. 
The  First  Presb}^terian  have  a  very  fine  house,  nearly  completed,  on  the 
west  side,  which  will  cost  $30,000.  The  Methodists  have  also,  in  this 
locality,  a  really  handsome  gothic  church,  almost  ready,  containing  in  its 
tower  the  largest  bell  in  the  city  and  a  fine  clock.  Cost,  $40,000.  The 
Roman  Catholics  have  a  handsome  gothic  church  done  and  are  occupying 
it,  which  cost  $43,000,  and  have  another,  building,  for  a  German  congre- 
gration,  at  an  expense  of  $60,000.  The  Episcopalians  have  in  addition 
to  the  parent  church — St.  Mark's — three  chapels,  while  the  two  Holland 
churches  have  large  and  finely  appointed  edifices  completed,  one  costing 
$35,000.  The  Westminster  Presbyterian  Society  has  a  very  nice  church 
edifice  on  the  east  side,  while  the  Dutch  Reformed  congregation  is 
taking  steps  to  build  a  $25,000  house.  The  old  Catholic  church  of  St. 
Andrew  has  been  disposed  of,  and  plans  for  a  $100,000  cathedral  are  now 
being  perfected.  The  Universalists  have  a  very  pretty  and  well  finished 
and  furnished  church. 

The  manufacturing  interests  of  Grand  Rapids  are  large  and  rapidly 
increasing.  Generally,  they  may  be  summed  up  in  three  flouring,  one 
woolen,  fifteen  saw,  four  plaster  and  other  mills,  three  furnaces,  two 
boiler  factories,  four  tanneries,  six  large  furniture  manufactories,  and  a 
dozen  smaller  ones,  three  extensive  chair  factories,  ten  large  cooper 
shops,  six  extensive  carriage  manufactories,  ten  wagon  shops,  one  chem 
ical  works,  three  pail  and  bucket  factories,  one  clothes  pin  factory,  one 
gypsum  ornament  manufactory,  several  sash,  door  and  blind  shops,  two 
saw  manufactories,  three  marble  and  stone  yards,  one  brush  factory, 
Waters'  patent  barrel  factory,  two  hub  factories,  two  manufactories  of 
farming  implements,  one  faucet  manufactory  ;  in  fact,  almost  every- 

of  the  city  of  Pontiac,  and  member  of  its  board  of  education  from  1864 
to  1868  ;  delegate  to  the  national  Democratic  convention  at  Baltimore 
in  1872. 

As  a  speaker  and  writer,  Mr.  Look  has  a  wide  reputation.  Some  of  his 
public  addresses  have  commanded  extraordinary  approbation,  and  have 
been  republished  in  the  leading  American  and  foreign  journals.  He  is 
the  author  of  a  work  upon  "The  Law  and  Practice  of  Masonic  Trials," 
which  has  become  a  standard  authority  in  its  department  throughout  the 
United  States.  Such  of  his  productions  as  he  has  given  to  the  press 
have  elicited  an  instant  and  universal  approval,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
his  useful  and  powerful  pen  may  not  lie  idle  in  the  future.  His  merits 
as  a  writer  consist  in  clearness  and  boldness  of  conception,  fertility  in 
expression,  correctness  of  taste,  and  a  remarkable  grace  and  purity  of 
style. 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  695 

thing  that  can  be  made  from  wood  has  a  manufactory  in  this  city. ' 
Fanning  mills,  milk  safes,  and  such  like  useful  articles  are  extensively 
fabricated,  and  all  these  varied  industries— large  numbers  of  which  we 
have  not  attempted  to  enumerate — furnish  employment  for  an  army  of 
mechanics,  artisans  and  laborers,  who  are  paid  weekly  for  their  skill  and 
efforts  in  developing  the  city's  resources. 

Upon  either  side  of  the  Grand  river  is  a  canal,  which  furnishes  a  vast 
amount  of  power  for  propelling  the  machinery  incident  to  the  manufac 
turing  enterprises  of  the  place,  the  descent  in  the  river  over  the  rapids 
producing  a  head  and  fall  of  sixteen  feet ;  and  yet  it  is  safe  to  say  that 
fully  one-half  of  the  whole  power  used  in  the  various  departments  of 
mechanical  effort  in  the  city  is  made  from  steam. 

At  this  time  of  writing  six  railroads  are  in  operation,  under  the  control 
of  some  of  the  most  extensive  corporations  in  the  country,  sending  out 
and  receiving  daily  the  passengers  upon  thirty  trains  of  cars,  while  the 
immense  freighting  business  incident  to  the  lumber,  plaster  and  manufac 
turing  interests  are  indeed  great.  A  street  railway  from  the  Detroit  and 
Milwaukee  Railway  has  long  been  in  operation,  running  through  Leonard, 
Canal,  Monroe  and  Fulton  streets,  and  when  continued  to  the  Fair 
grounds,  will  be  a  source  of  great  convenience. 

This  year  (1873)  upwards  of  three  hundred  buildings  of  all  kinds, 
including  forty  stores,  are  in  process  of  erection,  and  it  is  one  of  the 
strong  points  of  the  resources  of  Grand  Rapids  that  all  the  stone  for 
paving  or  building,  and  fine  yellow  brick,  as  good  as  those  made  in  Mil 
waukee,  with  lime,  plaster  of  Paris,  stucco  and  sand,  are  found  within 
the  corporation,  while  the  country  immediately  north  abounds  with  the 
best  of  pine,  cedar,  beech,  maple  and  other  pierchantable  woods  out  of 
which  lumber  is  made.  With  the  exception  of  paint,  nails  and  gas 
piping,  the  materials  for  an  entire  ordinary  dwelling  are  to  be  found  in 
the  city,  the  product  of  the  county. 

The  public  schools  of  the  city  are  as  good  as  the  best  in  the  State,  and 
comprise  one  Union  or  High  school  and  eight  ward  schools,  all  under 
the  control  of  a  Board  of  Education  consisting  of  two  members  from 
each  ward,  with  the  Mayor,  who  are  elected  by  the  people.  The  build 
ings  occupied  for  school  purposes  are  mostly  of  brick,  and  of  attractive 
design,  with  good  play  grounds.  There  is  a  City  Library  of  upwards  of 
6,000  volumes,  supported  by  fines,  the  result  of  violated  ordinances;  also 
a  "  Kent  Scientific  Institute,"  which  has  one  of  the  most  valuable  collec 
tions  of  specimens,  minerals,  fossils,  etc.,  to  be  found  in  the  State,  and 
one  which  has  attracted  considerable  attention  from  scientists. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  in  a  very  flourishing  state, 
and  its  organization  has  not  only  been  efficient  but  exceedingly  useful  in 
the  line  of  its  Christian  duty  and  quiet  charities.  "  St.  Mark's  Home"  is 


696  GENERAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   STATES. 

a  hospital  under  the  immediate  control  of  some  ladies  of  St.  Mark's 
church,  and  has  proved  itself  of  great  benefit  to  many,  as  its  doors  are 
open  to  all,  without  distinction  of  creed.  The  charges  for  board  and  care 
are  just  sufficient  to  cover  actual  cost,  for  such  as  can  pay,  and  to  such 
as  cannot  and  are  worthy,  no  charge  is  made. 

"The  Union  Benevolent  Society"  is  another  charitable  hospital,  of  a 
more  enlarged  character,  which  has  been  in  existence  for  upwards  of 
fifteen  years.  It  is  managed  by  ladies  and  gentlemen  selected  from  the 
various  Protestant  organizations,  and  is  incorporated.  Having  an  eligible 
and  admirably  located  lot,  steps  are  now  being  taken  towards  the  erection 
of  a  suitable  building  to  accommodate  their  rapidly  increasing  wants. 

This  city  is  the  acknowledged  metropolis  of  western  and  northwestern 
Michigan.  Its  location  is  one  of  admitted  beauty,  having  a  rare  variety 
of  hill  and  dale  for  landscape,  while  it  is  noted  for  its  elegant  residences, 
suburban  villas,  fine  business  blocks,  and  the  air  of  activity  and  thrift 
which  characterizes  so  many  of  our  western  towns.  The  United  States 
have  decided  to  erect  a  suitable  public  building  here  for  its  District 
Courts,  Pension  Office,  U.  8.  Marshal's  Office,  Collector,  Post-office,  etc., 
etc.,  and  has  ordered  a  free  postal  delivery  system,  in  accordance  with  a 
law  of  Congress  passed  at  its  last  session.  It  should  be  added  that  during 
the  season  of  navigation  boats  ply  regularly  on  the  Grand  river  to  Grand 
Haven,  and  a  large  amount  of  business  is  transacted  along  the  shores, 
which  are  dotted  with  thriving  villages. 

The  traveling  public  are  well  cared  for  in  several  hotels,  which  are  well 
kept,  though  the  rapid  increase  of  population  and  the  influx  of  strangers, 
attracted  by  the  wide-spread  notoriety  of  the  place  for  business,  demand 
increased  facilities  in  this  line,  and  steps  are  being  taken  towards  the 
erection  of  more  hotel  room.  There  are  two  free  bridges  and  one  toll 
bridge  spanning  the  river — which  is  900  feet  wide — also  two  railroad 
bridges.  The  wholesale  business  of  Grand  Rapids  in  groceries,  boots  and 
shoes,  dry  goods,  hardware  and  manufactured  articles  from  wood,  is 
large  and  rapidly  increasing.  Several  of  its  streets  are  paved  with  stone, 
while  wooden  pavements  are  now  coming  into  general  use.  Owing  to  the 
hilly  nature  of  a  large  part  of  the  city  plat  and  the  necessity  of  much 
filling  ne  »r  the  river,  on  the  east  side,  the  grading  and  leveling  of  streets 
has  been  a  costly  undertaking,  but  it  has  been  accomplished  during  the 
ten  years  past  at  an  outlay  of  nearly  a  hundred  thousand  dollars  per 
annum.  The  ground  forming  the  plat  on  the  west  side  is  very  level,  and 
calculated  for  a  large  city,  backed  and  skirted  as  it  is  by  very  bold  and 
delightful  bluffs  Situated  as  Grand  Rapids  is,  in  the  vicinity  of  a 
splendid  farming,  fruit,  wool  raising  and  well  wooded  country,  it  must 
continue  to  increase  in  wealth,  population  and  intelligence,  and  remain 
in  the  future,  as  it  is  now,  the  second  city  of  Michigan,  and  through  its 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  697 

various  institutions  and  enterprises  of  a  business,  religious  and  social 
nature,  must  do  no  small  share  in  moulding  the  thought  and  giving  tone 
and  direction  to  the  population  which  is  rapidly  rilling  up  the  great 
country  north  as  far  Mackinaw,  and  west  to  the  shore  of  Lake  Michigan. 
The  view  which  we  give  of  a  portion  of  the  city  is  taken  from  the 
Union  school  hill,  looking  south  and  southwest,  and  covering  in  the 
foreground  portions  only  of  the  first,  second  and  third  wards,  on  the 
east  side,  and  the  eighth  ward  across  the  river  in  the  distance. 


ADRIAN. 


ADRIAN  is  a  beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of  about  12,000  inhabitants, 
situated  on  the  south  branch  of  the  River  Raisin,  on  high,  rolling  ground, 
in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  richest  farming  districts  in  the  State.  It  is 
located  very  nearly  in  the  center  of  Lenawee  county,  of  which  it  is  the 
county  seat.  It  is  easy  of  access  by  rail — thirty-three  miles  from  Toledo, 
seventy-four  miles  from  Detroit,  two  hundred  and  ten  miles  from  Chicago, 
and  eighty-five  miles  from  Lansing. 

The  site  upon  which  the  city  is  built  was  located  by  Addison  J.  Corn- 
stock,  in  1825,  and  a  plat  of  forty-nine  lots,  comprising  a  part  of  what 
is  now  the  business  portion  of  the  city,  was  made  by  him,  and  recorded 
March  31,  1828. 

Adrian  was  incorporated  in  1853,  since  which  time  its  boundaries  have 
twice  been  enlarged.  It  now  covers  an  area  of  nearly  three  miles  square, 
and  has  grown  to  be  one  of  the  most  important  manufacturing  cities  in 
the  State.  It  is  an  orderly,  well  regulated  city — governed  in  the  interest 
of  economy  and  good  order.  Its  present  officials  are  Wm.  H.  Waldby, 
Mayor;  W.  H.  Stone,  Treasurer;  F.  B. 'Nixon,  Recorder;  Simeon  M.  Bab- 
cock,  Marshal;  George  L.  Bachman,  City  Attorney;  Daniel  T.Anderson, 
Collector.  Aldermen — First  Ward — George  W.  Larwill,  Michael  Molloy; 
Second  Ward— Lorenzo  Tabor,  George  S.  Brown;  Third  Ward— W.  T. 
Lawrence,  Edward  Swords  ;  Fourth  Ward  —  C.  H.  Comstock,  James 
Warner. 

The  buildings  of  Adrian  are  of  a  superior  order.  It  contains  many 
very  elegant  residences,  and  numerous  very  fine  public  buildings.  Its 
healthfulness,  cleanliness,  beauty  and  prosperity  evoke  universal  com 
mendation.  Its  church  edifices  are  models  of  convenience  and  elegance. 
Perhaps  no  city  in  the  country  is  better  provided  with  churches.  The 
Presbyterians,  Methodist  Episcopal,  Congregationalists,  Baptists,  Luther 
ans  and  Catholics  each  have  large  brick  church  edifices.  Other  denomi 
nations  have  convenient  but  less  pretentious  churches.  The  increasing 
importance  of  Adrian  College  is  a  subject  of  much  interest.  Its  struggle 
to  maintain  itself  and  its  final  triumph  command  the  admirl^**"  Ml 
lovers  of  education.  From  a  weak  beginning  it  has  grown  to  be  one  of 
the  first  educational  institutions  in  the  State.  It  is  situated  on  a  fine 
elevation  in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  overlooking  it  from  the  west. 
It  has  four  fine  brick  buildings,  and  an  endowment  of  $100,000. 


_ 


EEE^ES 


700  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   STATES. 

The  school  system  of  Adrian  is  unsurpassed,  possessing  as  it  does  the 
most  perfect  facilities  for  bestowing  upon  all  who  may  avail  themselves 
of  the  benefits  of  it,  an  education  at  once  the  most  liberal  and  thorough. ; 
The  schools  are  admirably  conducted,  the  corps  of  teachers  being  second 
to  none  in  the  State.  The  instructions  are  thorough  and  upon  the  broad-: 
est  and  most  liberal  basis.  The  graduates  therefrom  are  admitted  to  the: 
University  without  examination.  The  school  buildings  consist  of  the 
central  building,  so  called,  erected  in  1869,  costing  about  $100,000,  and 
four  large  branch  buildings,  of  brick — one  in  each  ward. 

The  city  is  well  provided  with  hotels,  some  of  them  ranking  among 
the  best  in  the  West,  affording  ample  accommodations  of  the  first  order. 

The  Adrian  Car  Manufacturing  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $300,000, 
manufactures  passenger  and  freight  cars,  and  employs  three  hundred 
men.  There  is  connected  with  these  works  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
important  foundries  in  the  State,  outside  of  Detroit  and  Wyandotte. 

The  Illinois  Manufacturing  Company  employs  a  capital  of  $200,000 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  men;  has  orders  from  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  is  noted  for  the  promptness  and  dispatch  with  which  it  fills  them. 
It  manufactures  all  kinds  of  car  trimmings  and  brass  fittings.  • 

The  Adrian  Paper  Mill  Company  manufactures  wrapping  and  print 
paper;  has  a  capital  of  $75,000,  and  employs  fifty  men. 

The  Adrian  Hand  Car  Company,  recently  organized,  manufactures  an 
improved  hand  car,  and  has  orders  from  all  parts  of  the  country. 

There  are  three  first  class  flouring  mills  here  in  successful  operation, 
two  of  them  being  run  by  water  and  one  by  steam. 

Boots  and  shoes,  carriages  and  furniture  are  manufactured  [for  the 
wholesale  trade  to  a  considerable  extent. 

There  is  about  to  be  established  a  file  manufactory,  also  a  factory  for 
the  manufacture  of  all  kinds  of  wooden- ware,  which  will  furnish  employ 
ment  for  a  considerable  number  of  men. 

Adrian  has  four  banks — First  National,  formerly  Waldby's  Bank  of 
Adrian,  long  atfd  successfully  conducted  by  Wm.  H.  Waldby,  the  present 
Mayor  of  the  city;  W.  H.  Stone  &  Co.,  private  bankers;  Lenawee  County 
Savings  Bank,  and  the  Adrian  Savings  Bank. 

The  Michigan  State  Insurance  Company,  located  here,  is  one  of  the 
best  insurance  companies  in  the  State.  It  is  doing  a  large  business,  and 
is  perfectly  reliable. 

The  first  newspaper  was  published  here  October  22,  1834,  called  thfc 
Lenawee  Republican  and  Adrian  Gazette,  afterwards  the  Watcktower,  R.  W. 
Inglass,  proprietor. 

In  1865,  a  portion  of  the  Watchiower  establishment  was  purchased  by 
General  Wm.  Humphre}',  now  Auditor-General  of  the  State,  and  he,  in 
conjunction  with  T.  S.  Applegate,  one  of  the  owners  of  the  Watchtowery 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN. 


701 


established  the  Adrian  Daily  Times,  which  took  the  place  of  the  Watch- 
tower. 

The  Adrian  Expositor  was  established  in  1843,  and  was  consolidated 
with  the  Times  in  1866.  The  Times  and  Expositor  is  ably  conducted  by 
its  present  proprietors,  Messrs.  Applegate  &  Fee,  and  has  a  large  circula 
tion  daily  and  weekly. 


HON.  J.  W.  GORDON. 

J.  WRIGHT  GOKDON  was  lieutenant-governor  of  Michigan  during  the 
administration  of  Governor  Woodbridge,  and  upon  the  resignation  of 
the  latter  gentleman  to  accept  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  Mr. 
Gordon  became  acting  governor.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  high  character 
and  ability,  find  was  at  one  time  the  regular  Whig  candidate  for  United 
States  Senator;  but  was  defeated  by  a  combination  of  Whigs  and  Demo 
crats  in  the  legislature.  After  leaving  the  public  service,  his  health 
became  impaired,  and  he  visited  South  America.  He  died  at  Pernain- 
buco,  from  the  effects  of  a  fall  from  a  balcony,  in  December,  1853. 


702  GENERAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

The  Press  (daily  and  weekly),  recently  established  by  William  A. 
Whitney,  is  receiving  an  extensive  patronage,  and  is  also  ably  conducted. 

The  Journal  is  issued  every  Friday  morning,  and  has  a  circulation 
throughout  the  county.  Japheth  Cross,  proprietor. 

The  Adrian  Auzeiger  is  a  German  paper  of  modest  pretensions,  well 
managed  by  Messrs.  Lohmann  &  Son,  and  well  patronized  by  the  German 
population  of  the  city  and  county. 

Adrian  has  a  very  efficient  and  well  ordered  paid  Fire  Department — 
two  steam  fire  engines,  one  Babcock  self-acting  fire  engine,  one  hand 
engine,  and  one  hook  and  ladder  company.  The  department  employs 
fifty  men.  The  apparatus  is  of  the  best  class,  and  comfortable  and  elegant 
brick  engine  houses  afford  quarters  for  the  men  and  horses  employed,  the 
city  owning  the  teams  used. 

The  Mineral  Springs,  connected  with  the  hotel  by  that  name,  located  in 
the  western  part  of  the  paved  district,  are  pronounced  by  chemists,  and 
show  by  analysis,  to  be  possessed  of  excellent  medicinal  properties. 
They  are  well  patronized,  with  the  best  results.  The  bath  and  hotel 
accommodations  are  of  the  first  order. 

There  are  a  number  of  other  mineral  springs  in  the  city — one  located 
between  Adrian  College  and  the  business  portion  of  the  city,  on  the 
premises  of  J.  J.  Newell,  Esq. ,  which  has  recently  been  analyzed,  and  pro 
nounced  a  very  superior  and  healthful  beverage.  Besides  being  possessed 
of  excellent  curative  powers,  it  is  cold  and  exceedingly  palatable.  One  on 
the  premises  of  Colonel  J.  H.  Wood,  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  city, 
is  also  rapidly  increasing  in  favor.  It  is  located  in  a  beautiful  spot  and 
is  attracting  much  notice.  There  are  others  of  more  or  less  merit  in 
different  parts  of  the  city.  A  large  number  of  strangers,  from  all  sections 
of  the  country,  visit  Adrian  for  the  purpose  of  enjoying  the  benefits  of 
these  springs  and  the  healthful  atmosphere  of  the  place.  The  influx  of 
these  visitors  is  so  large  that  the  hotels  and  boarding  houses  of  the  city, 
heretofore  affording  ample  accommodations,  are  filled  to  their  utmost 
capacity,  and  the  erection  of  new  buildings  for  the  especial  purpose  of 
accommodating  those  who  corne  here  to  recreate  and  restore  themselves 
to  health  and  vigor  is  contemplated. 

Adrian  has  several  parks,  the  most  important  of  which  is  Monument 
Square,  in  which  is  located  the  Soldiers'  Monument.  The  monument 
consists  of  an  Italian  marble  shaft,  thirty  feet  high,  surmounting  a  base, 
twenty  feet  high,  built  of  cut  stone. 

The  Adrian  Gas  Light  Company  was  organized  in  1856,  with  a  capital 
of  $50,000,  since  which  time  the  works  have  been  enlarged  and  the  capi 
tal  stock  increased. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  and  the  Ladies'  Library  Asso 
ciation,  deserve  mention.  The  former  has  a  free  reading-room,  supplied 


HISTORY    OF   MICHIGAN. 


703 


with  the  best  papers  and  magazines  of  the  day,  and  is  doing  much  good 
in  the  city.  The  latter  possesses  one  of  the  finest  miscellaneous  libraries 
in  the  State,  consisting  of  about  two  thousand  volumes  of  choice  works. 
Much  interest  is  taken  in  horticulture  and  in  ornamenting  the  homes 
of  the  city  with  shrubs  and  flowers.  There  is  a  horticultural  society 
maintained  here,  which  does  much  to  create  and  foster  a  proper  spirit  of 


HON.  WM.  L.  GREENLY. 

WILLIAM  L.  GREENLY  was  born  at  Hamilton,  Madison  county,  New 
York,  September  18,  1813;  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  in 
1831;  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1834.  In  1836,  he 
settled  in  Adrian,  Michigan,  where  he  has  since  resided.  The  year  fol 
lowing,  he  was  elected  State  senator,  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
1839.  In  1845,  he  was  elected  lieutenant-governor  of  the  State,  and 
became  acting  governor  by  the  resignation  of  Governor  Felch,  who  was, 
in  February,  1847,  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate.  Governor  Greenly 
is  a  gentleman  of  high  character  and  attainments,  and  during  his^official 
career  served  the  State  with  great  acceptability. 


704  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

emulation.  Adrian  is  one  of  the  best  ornamented  cities  in  the  State,  and 
is  beautifully  shaded  with  maple  and  elm  trees. 

Oakwood  Cemetery,  situated  in  the  northeast  portion  of  the  city,  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  River  Raisin,  is  one  of  nature's  most  beautiful  land 
scapes — is  laid  out  in  the  best  style — is  ornamented  and  beautified  with 
that  taste  and  solemn  elegance  becoming  the  sacred  city  of  the  dead.  It 
is  indeed  a  beautiful  and  hallowed  spot.  Here  solemnity  and  beauty 
associate  in  harmonious  combination. 

Situated  as  Adrian  is — upon  the  main  line  of  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michi 
gan  Southern  Railway,  at  its  junction  with  the  Jackson  and  Detroit 
branches,  with  fair  prospects  of  the  speedy  completion  of  the  Adrian 
and  Detroit  Railroad  with  its  connections,  making  a  grand  trunk  line 
between  the  East  and  Southwest,  with  a  good  market,  for  which  it  has 
justly  been  noted  since  the  completion  of  the  Erie  and  Kalamazoo  Rail 
road  to  this  point  in  1836,  with  its  large  and  constantly  increasing  manu 
facturing  interests,  the  rich  farming  country  surrounding  it,  the  heauty 
and  healthfulness  of  its  location,  its  superb  schools  and  the  general  intel 
ligence  of  its  people— it  has  a  grand  future  before  it. 

The  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railway  company  employs 
three  hundred  men  in  its  repair  and  car  building  shops  here,  which  shops 
are  located  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  works  of  the  Adrian  Car 
Manufacturing  Company.  City  lots,  convenient  to  these  shops,  have 
been  laid  out  and  platted,  affording  mechanics  an  excellent  opportunity 
to  provide  for  themselves  comfortable  homes. 

Fine  building  lots,  in  other  portions  of  the  city,  can  be  purchased  on 
very  easy  terms  at  comparatively  low  prices.  No  city  in  the  State  affords 
better  opportunities  or  offers  better  inducements  to  those  desirous  of  pro 
curing  houses,  whether  they  wish  to  engage  in  business  or  retire  from 
the  active  pursuits  of  life  to  educate  their  children,  or  to  enjoy  the 
society  of  an  educated  and  intelligent  people. 


45 


DETROIT. 

IN  preceding  chapters  of  this  work,  we  have  given  the  incidents  con 
nected  with  the  history  of  Detroit  more  iu  detail  than  space  will  allow 
at  this  place.  It  is  our  purpose  in  this  sketch  to  follow,  very  briefly,  the 
outline  of  its  history,  and  then  to  notice  its  growth,  improvements  and 
future  prospects. 

Established  in  1701,  by  the  French,  Fort  Detroit  soon  came  into  rivalry 
with  its  older  and  distant  sister,  Michilimackinac.  Previous  to  the  date 
mentioned,  the  latter  place  had  been  regarded  as  the  central  western  out 
post  of  New  France,  but  the  establishment  of  a  fort  and  trading  post 
on  the  Detroit  river  drew  largely  from  that  place.  Its  advantages  in 
climate,  government  and  the  liberality  of  its  commandant  were  all  that 
was  needed  to  divert  the  tide  of  settlement  from  Michilimackinac. 

Three  years  after  the  establishment  of  Fort  Detroit,  the  English 
influenced  the  Indians  to  set  fire  to  the  town,  which  was,  however,  but 
partially  destroyed. 

In  1712,  the  Fox  Indians  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  destroy  it,  but 
after  a  bold  and  determined  siege  of  nineteen  days,  they  were  repulsed 
with  great  loss. 

In  1749,  the  settlement  was  extended  by  emigrants  sent  out  at  the 
expense  of  the  French  government,  but  the  policy  of  the  new  command 
ant  was  such  as  to  prevent  the  rapid  growth  of  the  town. 

In  17G3,  Fort  Detroit,  with  all  Canada,  was  transferred  to  the  British 
Crown.  This  change  was  not  only  distasteful  to  the  French  settlers  at 
Detroit,  but  to  the  Indians  in  the  surrounding  country,  who  had  learned 
to  respect  and  love  their  "brothers,  the  French."  This  savage  dissatis 
faction,  goaded  on  by  the  French,  resulted  in  what  is  known  to  history 
as  the  Pontiac  war,  a  full  account  of  which  has  already  been  given  in 
this  work. 

In  1796,  the  American  army  entered  Detroit.  The  British  had  pre 
viously  left  the  town,  and  their  authority  was  thus  peacefully  transferred 
to  the  United  States. 

The  Territory  of  Michigan  was  organized  in  1805,  at  which  date  Gen 
eral  William  Hull  was  appointed  its  first  Governor.  He  formed  a  gov 
ernment  at  Detroit,  in  July  of  that  year.  The  town  of  Detroit  had  been 
entirely  destroyed  by  fire  a  short  time  previous,  and  now  advantage  was 


SECOND  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH,  DETROIT. 


708  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

taken  of  this  circumstance  to  widen  the  streets  and  lay  out  the  future 
city  on  an  entirely  new  and  enlarged  plan. 

The  growth  of  Detroit,  for  many  years,  depended  on  the  fur  trade  and 
the  disbursement  of  public  moneys.  There  was  yet  needed  that  impulse 
which  is  only  produced  by  the  settlement  of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  old  town  of  Detroit  was  situated  a  little  west  of  the  heart  of  the 
present  city  of  Detroit  and  was  built  entirely  of  wood.  The  streets  were 
narrow,  and  the  place  presented  a  rude,  uninviting  appearance. 

Passing  on  from  1805  to  1815,  we  find  the  "new  town"  or  city  of 
Detroit  considerably  improved.  It  had  one  commodious  dock,  called  the 
"public  wharf."  It  consisted  of  a  pier,  formed  by  a  crib  of  logs,  filled 
in  with  stone  and  gravel.  It  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from 
the  shore,  with  which  it  was  connected  by  a  bridge,  or  plank-way.  All 
vessels,  whether  public  or  private,  were  then  accustomed  to  load  and 
unload  at  this  wharf.  The  rest  of  the  water  front  was  in  a  state  of 
nature.  A  second  wharf  was  built  in  1826. 

There  were  six  or  seven  stores,  for  general  business,  in  the  town  at  this 
date,  but  not  a  vessel  which  then  navigated  the  lakes  was  owned  in 
Detroit. 

The  military  grounds  were  occupied  by  Fort  Shelby  and  the  Infantry 
cantonment.  This  fort  was  erected  in  1777,  by  Major  Le  Noult,  the 
British  commander,  and  was  thrown  down  in  1827.  The  cantonment 
was  built  in  1815,  occupying  nearly  the  whole  square  between  Fort 
Wayne,  Lafayette  and  Cass'  line.  It  consisted  of  a  group  of  log  build 
ings  about  one  hundred  feet  long.  The  court  room  used  in  1834  was,  in 
1820,  used  by  the  court-martial,  and  as  the  dancing  hall  of  the  can 
tonment. 

The  city  of  Detroit  was  incorporated  by  an  act  passed  by  the  Governor 
and  judges,  on  the  4th  of  October,  1815.  By  this  act  the  municipal 
authority  was  invested  in  five  trustees,  a  secretary,  an  assessor,  a  collec 
tor  and  a  city  marshal,  who  were  to  be  chosen  on  the  first  day  of  May, 
annually,  by  the  householders  of  the  city,  paying  an  annual  rent  of  forty 
dollars. 

General  John  R.  Williams  was  elected  the  first  mayor  of  Detroit,  in 
1824,  and  in  1836,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  extending  the  limits  of  the 
city.  This  opened  the  way  for  that  influx  of  immigration  and  advance 
ment  of  commercial  enterprise  which  has  made  Detroit  a  great  city. 

Until  1827,  Detroit  was  the  only  municipal  corporation  in  the  Territory 
of  Michigan,  and  at  that  time  it  contained  a  population  of  about  two 
thousand  souls,  which  was  about  one-tenth  of  the  population  of  the  Ter 
ritory.  Even  at  that  late  date,  the  city  was  but  little  else  than  a  military 
and  fur  trading  post.  The  inhabitants  were  principally  native  French, 
with  a  few^families  from  the  eastern  States.  Then  only  three  or  four 


HISTORY  OF  MICHIGAN. 


709 


steamboats  a  week  arrived  in  Detroit;  now  a  craft  of  some  nature  passes 
it  every  six  minutes  on  an  average,  and  nearly  all  the  steamers  on  the 
upper  and  lower  lakes  make  it  a  stopping  point.  Then  there  were  but 
four  wharves  at  which  vessels  could  unload;  now  its  docks  extend  for 
miles  on  the  river  front.  Then  there  were  but  three  turnpike  roads  lead 
ing  from  Detroit;  now  there  are  plank  roads  and  railroads  in  almost  every 


CITY  HALL,  DETROIT. 

direction.  Then  the  eastern  mail  arrived  once  a  week ;  now  we  have  four 
mails  from  that  quarter  daily,  and  the  telegraph  wires  extend  to  all  points 
in  America  and  Europe.  The  latter  means  of  communication  was 
opened  to  Detroiters  on  the  first  day  of  March,  1848. 

Among  those  institutions  whose  growth  has  rendered  Detroit  famous 
in  the  nation,  may  justly  be  mentioned  the  public  schools.  It  is  true  that 
the  schools  of  Detroit — where  every  child  in  the  city  can  obtain  the 
elements  of  a  good  English  education  free  of  charge — are  the  pride  and 
boast  of  the  city.  The  free  public  schools  were  first  established  in  1842. 
But  little  interest  had  been  manifested  in  the  subject  of  education  pre 
vious  to  this  date,  and  the  citizens  of  Detroit  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Zina 


710  GENERAL  HISTORY   OF   THE  STATES. 

Pitcher  for  the  first  step  towards  establishing  a  general  system  of  educa 
tion.  While  mayor,  in  1841,  he  called  the  attention  of  the  common 
council  to  the  great  need  of  public  schools  in  the  city;  and  a  report  was 
subsequently  made  to  that  body,  showing  that  there  were  twenty-seven 
English  schools,  one  French  and  one  German  school.  The  whole  num 
ber  of  pupils  reported  was  about  seven  hundred,  while  there  were  over 
two  thousand  children  of  school-age  in  the  city. 

Measures  were  then  taken  for  the  establishment  of  common  schools, 
and,  in  a  short  time,  seven  new  schools  were  opened.  In  1842,  the  Legis 
lature  passed  an  act  incorporating  the  schools  of  the  city  into  one 
district,  under  the  charge  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  city  of 
Detroit.  Since  that  date,  this  board  has  had  the  management  of  the 
school  system,  which,  to  the  credit  of  its  several  members,  is  one  of  the 
most  efficient  in  the  United  States. 

The  first  house  for  public  worship  erected  in  Detroit,  was  built  by  the 
Roman  Catholics,  in  1723.  This  building  stood  on  the  present  site  of 
Jefferson  avenue,  and  directly  opposite  the  Masonic  Hall.  It  was,  of 
course,  destroyed  by  the  fire  of  1805.  The  Cathedral  of  St.  Ann  was 
commenced  in  1817,  by  the  Rev.  Gabriel  Richard,  but  was  not  completed 
until  1832. 

The  Methodists  organized  a  society  in  Detroit  in  1812,  and  the  Episco 
pal  society  was  organized  in  1824.  The  first  Presbyterian  church  was 
organized  in  1825,  and  the  society  erected  a  church  on  the  corner  of 
Woodward  avenue  and  Larned  street  as  early  as  1826.  This  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1854. 

The  Second  Presbyterian  church  was  organized  in  1849,  with  the  Rev. 
R.  R.  Kellogg  as  pastor.  The  membership  of  this  church  then  consisted 
of  only  twenty-six  members.  Public  worship  was  held  in  the  old  capitol 
building  until  April  7,  1850,  when  the  society  took  possesion  of  their  new 
edifice,  on  the  corner  of  Lafayette  and  Wayne  streets.  There  they  con 
tinued  until  November  18,  1855,  when  they  removed  to  their  present 
place  of  worship,  with  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  members. 

In  the  month  of  February  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  Arthur  T.  Pierson, 
then  of  Waterford,  New  York,  was  called  to  the  vacant  pastorate,  which 
he  still  (1873)  occupies. 

In  the  spring  of  1860,  it  was  determined  by  the  trustees  to  go  forward 
with  sundry  extensive  improvements  upon  the  church  edifice,  long  con 
templated,  and  felt  to  be  essential  to  the  completion  of  the  original 
design.  The  work  was  begun  in  July,  1870,  and  completed  within  the 
year,  the  re-opening  and  re-dedication  services  being  held  January  1st, 
1871. 

From  corner  stone  to  cornice,  the  whole  building  was  remodeled  and 
refitted,  especially  as  to  its  interior,  furnished  with  black  walnut  pews 
and  pulpit  and  a  crescent  gallery,  and  also  with  carpets  and  cushions. 


FORT  STREET,  DETROIT. 


712  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    STATES. 

Space,  in  this  late  stage  of  our  work,  will  not  admit  of  mention  of  the 
multitude  of  useful  institutions  now  existing  in  the  city.  The  most 
important  is  the  House  of  Correction,  which  is  an  honor  to  Detroit. 

The  Detroit  City  Hall — an  engraving  of  which  is  presented  here — is 
one  of  the  finest  and  most  substantial  edifices  owned  by  any  munici 
pality  of  equal  population  in  America. 

But  Detroit  is  not  alone  indebted  to  artificial  and  architectural  accom 
plishments  for  its  magnificence.  Nature,  in  her  munificence,  has  bestowed 
her  beauties  with  a  free  hand.  This  is  noticeable  in  the  view  of  Fort 
street,  here  presented. 

The  present  condition  of  the  city,  in  a  commercial  point  as  in  all 
others,  is  most  satisfactory.  The  numerous  extensive  manufactories 
attest  its  steady  growth;  and  the  volume  of  its  commerce,  which  is  becom 
ing  broader  and  more  profitable  year  \yy  year,  is  a  safe  guarantee  of  its 
future  greatness. 


HON.  WILLIAM  C.  DUNCAN. 

WILLIAM  CHAMBERLAIN  DUNCAN  was  born  in  Lyons,  New  York,  on 
the  18th  of  May,  1820.  His  father's  family  removed  from  Lyons  to  Roch 
ester,  New  York,  when  he  was  about  five  years  of  age.  In  the  latter  city 
his  younger  years  were  spent,  and  he  received  there  the  advantage  of  an 
ordinary  common  school  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty  one,  desiring 
to  engage  in  some  employment  for  himself  which  might  lead  him  into 
active  business,  he  accepted  the  position  of  steward  on  one  of  the  passen 
ger  steamers  then  plying  on  the  lakes,  and  remained  in  this  employ 
ment  until  1846,  when  he  became  engaged  in  a  similar  occupation  extend 
ing  up  Lake  Superior. 


714  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Any  one  familiar  with  the  vast  commerce  which  is  now  seen  upon  Lake 
Superior,  and  the  almost  countless  craft  that  course  its  waters,  and  who 
know  Mr.  Duncan,  still  a  young  man,  will  find  it  difficult  to  realize  that 
he  was  present,  and  engaged  in  the  enterprise  of  taking  the  "  Julia 
Palmer,"  the  first  side-wheel  steamer  that  ever  floated  on  Lake  Superior, 
across  the  portage  at  the  Sault  Ste.  Marie. 

In  the  year  1849  Mr.  Duncan  became  a  permanent  resident  of  Detroit, 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  brewer  and  malster.  Detroit  was 
then  a  comparatively  small  city,  and  Mr.  Duncan  has  "grown  with  its 
growth." 

He  brought  into  business  life  great  personal  activity,  strict  devotion  to 
his  chosen  pursuit,  prudence  and  sagacity,  and  energy  which  was  never 
relaxed.  These  qualities  secured  him  success,  and  enabled  him  to  lay 
the  foundation  of  what  has  since  become  an  ample  fortune. 

Mr.  Duncan  early  attracted  to  himself  the  esteem  of  his  fellow-citizens, 
and  was  pointed  out  as  a  suitable  candidate  for  political  preferment. 
He  was  elected  an  alderman  in  the  year  1853,  and  served  in  that  position 
for  five  years.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  Common  Council  after 
that  office  was  created  by  an  amendment  of  the  city  charter.  Mr.  Dun 
can  was  always  a  Democrat,  and  his  personal  popularity  and  his  services 
in  the  city  council  led  to  his  nomination  in  1861  for  the  office  of  mayor. 
To  this  post  he  was  triumphantly  elected,  and  served  during  the  years 
1862  and  1863.  His  administration  was  distinguished  for  his  careful 
attention  to  city  affairs,  his  rigid  honesty  and  frugality,  and  his  particular 
efforts  and  influence  in  favor  of  the  war  for  the  Union.  In  the  fall  of 
1862  he  was  chosen  as  a  State  senator  from  the  second  district,  and  filled 
that  office  during  the  years  1863  and  1864. 

In  1865  Mr.  Duncan  retired  from  active  business,  his  impaired  health 
requiring  that  he  should  enjoy  more  recreation  and  rest.  Since  that  time 
he  has  given  his  attention  to  the  management  of  his  large  estate,  is  a 
director  in  financial  corporations,  has  visited  Europe  twice,  and  is  enjoy 
ing  the  fruits  of  a  youth  and  manhood  of  business  energy  and  enterprise. 

He  manifests  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  Detroit, 
and  his  fellow  citizens  have  not  ceased  to  honor  him  by  calling  into  pub 
lic  employment  his  intelligence  and  forecast.  In  the  spring  of  1873, 
upon  the  organization  of  the  board  of  estimates,  a  body  which  has  a  large 
control  of  the  municipal  expenditures,  he  was  chosen  a  member  at  large. 
In  the  fall  of  1873  the  unanimous  voice  of  his  party  selected  him  a  second 
time  as  its  candidate  for  the  mayoralty,  but  the  condition  of  his  health 
compelled  him  to  decline  the  nomination. 

Mr.  Duncan  is  a  notable  example  of  the  sound  and  practical  business 
qualities  which  lead  to  success,  and  of  the  personal  habits  and  character 
which  secure  and  retain  public  esteem. 


filSTORY   OP   MICHIGAN.  715 

His  energy,  perseverance,  integrity,  and  cordial  manners,  early  gave 
him  a  high  place  in  the  community  in  which  he  has  lived.  By  these 
qualities  and  habits  he  has  been  able  to  build  up  his  fortune  and  estab 
lish  his  position  in  society. 

His  popularity  is  not  exhausted,  and,  as  he  is  still  in  the  prime  of  life, 
it  is  the  hope  of  all  who  know  him  that  his  health  may  be  spared  for  the 
higher  duties  in  business  and  political  life,  to  which  his  fellow-citizens 
are  sure  to  summon  him. 


HON.  W.  W.  WHEATON. 

THE  subject  of  our  sketch,  the  Hon.  Wm.  W.  Wheaton,  of  Detroit,  is 
an  example  of  what  can  in  the  United  States  be  accomplished  without 
extrinsic  aid  or  influence  when  ability,  energy  and  ambition  are  united 
with  perseverance  and  determination  to  succeed. 

Mr.  Wheaton  was  born  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  on  the  5th  of  April, 
1833,  and  is  therefore  now  only  in  his  fortieth  year.  Yet  he  has  for 
twenty  years  been  a  prominent  wholesale  merchant,  most  of  the  time 
at  the  head  of  a  firm;  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  city  government  of 
Detroit  as  Mayor  for  four  years,  and  has  been  chairman  of  the  Demo 
cratic  State  Central  Committee  for  two  years.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  ran 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  717 

for  Senator  for  the  Second  District  of  Michigan  and  was  only  defeated 
by  twelve  votes,  and  he  was  twice  elected  Mayor.  It  is  rarely  that  mer 
cantile,  official  and  political  prominence  have  been  secured  so  early  in 
life  without  any  strong  outside  influences  to  aid  in  attaining  them. 

Mr.  Wheaton's  parents  were  only  in  moderate  circumstances.  When 
he  was  but  ten  years  old  his  father  died.  He  obtained  a  common  school 
education  by  working  for  his  board  and  schooling.  He  was  preparing 
for  college  under  the  late  Judge  Simeon  Baldwin,  of  New  Haven,  when 
he  was  offered  a  situation  in  the  mercantile  establishment  of  C.  H.  JSTor- 
thum  &  Co.,  of  Hartford.  He  remained  with  them  four  years,  laying 
the  foundation  of  business  qualifications  that  have  since  secured  him 
his  success.  He  then  removed  to  Detroit  and  entered  into  business  for 
himself  in  the  firm  of  Farrand  &  Wheaton,  and  subsequently  at  the  head 
of  the  firm  of  Wheaton,  Leonard  &  Burr,  and  Wm.  W.  Wheaton  &  Co. 
He  has  accumulated  a  fine  property  from  no  capital  but  business  capacity 
and  able  management.  He  is  at  the  present  time  the  treasurer  and 
general  agent  of  the  Marquette  and  Pacific  Rolling  Mill  Company  of 
Marquette,  which  represents  $500,000,  and  is  owned  mostly  in  Detroit. 
He  has  been  successful  as  an  official  through  incorruptibility  and  atten 
tion  to  his  duties.  He  has  acquired  prominence  as  a  politician  through 
his  knowledge  of  men,  his  frankness,  his  energy  and  his  independence  of 
individual  or  selfish  influences. 


FLINT. 


THE  city  of  Flint,  the  county  seat  of  Genesee  county,  is  beautifully 
located  upon  the  banks  of  the  Flint  river,  and  is  about  equi-distant 
between  Saginaw  and  Pontiac.  Its  present  population  is  about  10,000, 
and  it  is  a  town  of  no  inconsiderable  business.  Located  in  the  center  of 
a  rich  agricultural  county,  numbering  about  40,000  inhabitants,  the 
growth  of  the  city  has  never  been  rapid  and  spasmodic,  but  certain  and 
healthy. 

Mr.  Jacob  Smith  was  the  first  white  settler,  having  removed  here  soon 
after  the  treaty  was  concluded  with  the  Indians  at  Saginaw  in  1819.  Mr. 
Smith  had  but  few  white  neighbors  before  his  death,  and  it  was  not  until 
about  the  years  1828  and  1830  that  the  place  could  be  called  "fairly 
started."  Among  the  first  settlers,  may  be  mentioned  the  names  of 
Lyman  Stow,  Rufus  W.  Stevens,  John  Todd,  R.  F.  Stage,  D.  S.  Freeman, 
I.  D.  Wright,  G.  and  R.  Bishop,  L.  G.  Biskford,  C.  S.  Payne,  T.  B.  W. 
Stockton,  Charles  C.  Hascall,  II.  M.  and  I.  Henderson,  Win.  Moon. 

About  the  year  1834,  a  land  office  was  established  here  for  the  sale  of 
lands  in  the  Saginaw  district,  and  General  C.  C.  Hascall  was  appointed 
receiver  and  Michael  Hoffman  register.  Political  changes  taking  place, 
these  gentlemen  were  succeeded  by  George  M.  Dewey,  as  receiver,  and 
E.  B.  Witherbee,  as  register,  and  who  in  their  turn  were  succeeded  by  R. 
Bishop,  as  receiver,  and  Wm.  M.  Fenton,  as  register,  who  held  their 
appointments  until  the  office  was  removed  to  Saginaw,  in  the  year  1858. 

PUBLIC  BUILDINGS. 

The  Asylum  for  the  Deaf,  the  Dumb  and  the  Blind  was  located  here  by 
the  legislature  of  1847.  The  building  is  one  in  which  the  people  of  the 
State  may  take  a  just  pride.  The  site  was  donated  to  the  State  by  Colonel 
T.  B.  W.  Stockton.  Hon.  I.  B.  Walker  was  the  resident  commissioner 
until  his  declination  in  1872,  when  W.  L.  Smith  was  appointed  as  his  suc 
cessor.  The  institution  is  at  present  in  a  highly  flourishing  condition 
under  the  management  of  Professor  E.  L.  Bangs.  It  has  a  general  attend 
ance  of  150  students. 

The  Court  House  and  City  Hall  are  creditable  structures. 

HAILKOADS. 

The  Flint  and  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  passes  through  the  city,  opening 
a  direct  line  of  communication  to  all  points  north  and  south.  The  Port 


720  GENERAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   STATES. 

Huron  and  Lake  Michigan  Railroad  having  lately  been  consolidated  with 
the  Peninsula  Railroad,  extending  from  Lansing  to  Valparaiso,  in  Indiana, 
secures  the  early  completion  of  the  road  from  Flint  to  Lansing — the  new 
organization  taking  the  name  of  "The  Chicago  and  Lake  Huron  Railroad 
Company."  This  road  will,  when  finished,  be  of  great  advantage  to  the 
people  of  the  Northwest,  and  will  constitute  the  shortest  route  from 
Chicago  to  the  sea-board. 

SCHOOLS. 

Flint  has  vied  with  its  sister  cities  of  the  State  in  its  educational  facili 
ties.  A  central  "  Union  school"  building  is  now  being  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $100,000,  which  will  be  one  of  the  finest  school  buildings  in  the  State. 
Professor  Tumsdell  now  stands  at  the  head  and  supervises  the  educa 
tional  interests  of  the  city,  and  students  are  admitted  to  the  University 
upon  his  certificate  without  further  examination. 

LIBRARIES. 

The  only  public  library  in  the  city  is  that  of  the  "  Ladies1  Library 
Association,"  organized  in  1851,  and  which  is  the  pioneer  or  "mother 
association  "  of  the  hundreds  of  similar  ladies'  library  associations  now 
in  the  full  tide  of  successful  and  useful  operation,  not  only  in  Michigan, 
but  in  neighboring  States.  The  plan  of  this  "peculiar  institution"  origi 
nated  with  Mrs.  R.  "W.  Jenny,  who  wrote  its  constitution  and  by-laws, 
and  under  which  Mrs.  Colonel  Stockton  was  chosen  its  first  president.  It 
owns  a  large  and  valuable  circulating  library. 

Colonel  E.  H.  Thompson  has  one  of  the  largest  and  best  private  libra 
ries  in  the  State. 

The  "Flint  Scientific  Institute,"  pioneered  by  Dr.  Daniel  Clarke,  Dr. 
Manly  Miles,  Hon.  F.  H.  Rankin,  Hon.  E.  H.  Thompson,  and  others,  is 
one  of  the  best  of  its  kind.  It  has  a  rare  and  valuable  collection  for  the 
study  of  the  naturalist  and  the  scientist. 

BENEVOLENT   SOCIETIES. 

One  commandery  Knights  Templar;  one  chapter  Royal  Arch  Masons; 
two  lodges  F.  &  A.  M. ;  two  lodges  I.  O.  O.  F. ;  one  lodge  I.  O.  G.  T. ;  St. 
Michael's  Benevolent  Society. 

BANKS. 

Her  banks  are  the  First  National,  Citizens'  National,  and  the  Genesee 
County  Savings  Bank. 

Flint  has  also  a  Riding  Park  Association;  an  excellent  Brass  Band, 
under  charge  of  Professor  G.  I.  H.  Gardner;  a  military  company — "  The 
Flint  Union  Blues." 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  721 

NEWSPAPERS. 

There  are  three  weekly  newspapers.  The  Wolverine  Citizen,  published 
and  edited  by  F.  H.  Rankin ;  the  Globe,  by  A.  L.  Aldrich  (both  Republi 
can),  and  the  Oenesee  Democrat,  by  Jenny  &  Fellows. 

CHURCHES. 

Two  Methodist,  one  Presbyterian,  one  Episcopal,  one  Baptist,  one  Con 
gregational,  one  German  Evangelical,  one  Catholic.  The  new  Episcopal 
church  is  not  excelled  in  architectural  design  and  beauty  by  any  in  the 
State. 

MANUFACTORIES. 

The  manufacture  of  lumber  has  contributed  largely  to  the  prosperity 
of  the  city.  There  are  ten  steam  saw  mills,  of  usual  capacity,  besides 
planing  mills,  two  woolen  mills,  three  foundries,  etc.,  giving  employment 
to  a  large  force  of  workmen. 

Among  the  recent  improvements  in  the  city  have  been  the  sinking  of 
two  artesian  wells,  by  the  city  council,  and  the  erection  of  the  Holly 
Water  Works,  by  A.  McFarlan,  Esq.,  on  his  premises,  for  the  protection 
of  his  saw  mill  and  lumber  yard  from  fire. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  city  charter  was  granted  by  the  legislature  in  1855.  G.  Decker 
was  chosen  the  first  mayor.  The  subsequent  mayors  were  Hons.  R.  I.  S. 
Page,  Porter  Hazelton,  E.  S.  Williams,  H.  M.  Henderson,  Win.  Paterson, 
S.  M.  Axford,  W.  B.  McCreery,  Wm.  M.  Fenton,  Wm.  Hamilton,  A.  B. 
Witherbee,  Wm.  S.  Patrick,  H.  H.  Crapo,  I.  B.  Walker,  D.  S.  Fox,  and 
the  popular  and  efficient  incumbent,  Hon.  George  H.  Durand. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  and  prominent  professional  and  business 
men  of  Flint  have  died  within  the  past  few  years,  among  whom  may  be 
mentioned  the  names  of  Governor  H.  H.  Crapo,  Governor  Fenton,  Hon. 
H.  M.  Henderson,  Hon.  A.  B.  Witherbee,  Hon.  A.  P.  Davis,  Hon.  C.  P. 
Avery,  Hon.  Levi  Walker,  General  C.  C.  Hascall,  B.  Pierson,  James  Hen 
derson,  Esqrs.,  and  Rev.  Daniel  E.  Brown.  While  their  bodies  repose  in 
the  glades  of  our  beautiful  Glenwood,  the  memory  of  their  worth  and 
virtues  will  be  enshrined  in  the  memories  of  those  permitted  to  "linger 
behind." 

"  Give  them  the  meed  they  have  won  in  the  past- 
Give  them  the  honors  thQir  future  forecast." 


HON.  ALEXANDER    H.   MORRISON. 

ALEXANDER  HAMILTON  MORRISON,  of  St.  Joseph,  Michigan,  projector 
and  builder  of  the  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  and  its 
vice-president  and  general  manager,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Quebec, 
Canada,  February  22, 1822.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  he  was  engaged  as  clerk 
for  B.  W.  Smith,  now  sheriff  of  Simcoe,  Ontario,  and  with  him  came 
West  in  1838,  arriving  at  Chicago  in  October  of  that  year,  when  Chicago 
contained  less  than  four  thousand  inhabitants.  Here  he  entered  the 
employ  of  David  Ballentine,  Esq.,  then  a  contractor  on  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal,  and  remained  with  him  as  clerk  for  several  years.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen,  he  engaged  in  active  business  on  his  own  account. 

In  1847,  1848  and  1849,  Mr.  Morrison  was  engaged  as  a  contractor  on 
public  works  in  Illinois  and  Iowa.  In  1850,  he  came  to  St.  Joseph,  where 


HISTORY   OF   MICHIGAN.  723 

he  has  since  resided  and  been  connected  in  extensive  business  as  a  mer 
chant  and  lumberman,  until  he  engaged  in  the  railroad  enterprise  which 
now  occupies  his  attention. 

The  Chicago  and  Michigan  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  of  which  Mr.  Morri 
son  is  the  projector,  builder  and  successful  general  manager,  extends 
from  New  Buffalo  on  the  Michigan  Central  to  Pentwater,  which  is  the 
main  line — a  distance  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  miles — with  a  branch 
of  twenty-five  miles  from  Holland  to  Grand  Rapids,  and  another  branch 
from  Muskegon  to  Big  Rapids  of  fifty-five  miles,  making  in  all  two  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles  of  road. 

Considering  the  difficulties  encountered  in  consequence  of  the  decision 
of  the  supreme  court,  declaring  void  all  municipal  aid  voted  to  help  con 
struct  railways,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  road  was  built  through  a 
new  country,  sparsely  populated,  which  would  not  have  been  undertaken 
without  the  encouragement  the  law  of  1869  proposed,  the  success  of  the 
enterprise,  in  both  its  completion  and  management,  entitles  to  the  projector 
and  builder  to  an  amount  of  praise  for  commercial  sagacity,  foresight  and 
economy  in  all  the  details  of  construction  and  management,  seldom 
awarded  to  men  of  these  times,  and  which  to  him,  in  his  declining  years, 
will  be  a  great  source  of  consolation  and  pride. 

Mr.  Morrison,  while  engaged  in  extensive  business,  has  at  the  same 
time  given  some  attention  te  politics  and  been  the  recipient  of  political 
honors,  and  seen  much  of  public  life  for  a  man  of  his  years,  now  only 
fifty-two. 

In  1851,  he  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  supervisors  of  Berrien 
county.  In  1852,  he  was  a  candidate  for  presidential  elector  on  the 
Whig  ticket.  In  1856,  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  this  State.  In 
1860,  he  was  elected  to  the  house  of  representatives  and  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  State  affairs  for  three  sessions,  and  during  that  time  was 
one  of  the  special  joint  committee  on  war  matters,  of  which  Hons.  Jas. 
F.  Joy,  H.  P.  Baldwin  and  Thomas  D.  Gilbert  were  members.  To  the 
members  of  that  committee  must  be  awarded  the  honor  of  successfully 
projecting  that  policy  which  at  the  end  of  the  war  found  the  State  unin- 
cumbered  with  a  war  debt.  The  individual  members  of  that  committee 
were  also  foremost  in  sustaining  a  policy  not  less  important,  inaugurated 
by  Mr.  Joy  at  the  first  session  of  the  legislature  of  1861,  for  the  establish 
ment  of  a  sinking  fund,  which,  in  1881,  will  find  the  State  entirely  out 
of  debt. 

In  1862,  Mr.  Morrison  was  appointed,  by  President  Lincoln,  collector 
of  internal  revenue  for  the  second  district  of  Michigan,  and,  in  1867, 
assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  the  same  district,  which  office  he  held 
until  June,  1869,  when  he  resigned  to  enter  upon  the  railroad  project,  of 
which  mention  is  made  above. 


724  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

Mr.  Morrison  belongs  to  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  the  western 
country  who  were  Indian  traders  in  the  Lake  Superior  country  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century  and  the  first  part  of  this.  His  father  was 
a  member  of  the  old  Northwestern  Fur  Company,  and  one  of  the  few  part 
ners  in  that  company  that  refused  to  surrender  to,  and  successfully  resisted 
Lord  Selkirk,  in  his  war  made  upon  it  in  the  interest  of  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company,  immediately  after  the  late  war  with  Great  Britain.  His  guar 
dian,  in  his  boyhood,  and  under  whose  care  he  was  educated,  was  his 
friend  and  relative — the  late  William  Morrison — the  discoverer  of  the 
sources  of  the  Mississippi  river,  from  whom  he  obtained  a  knowledge  of 
pioneer  life  in  the  beginning  of  this  century  by  hearing  him  relate 
adventures  that  to  the  young  have  a  charm  that  is  irresistible. 

Mr.  Morrison  ascribes  his  late  success  to  his  business  connection  with 
the  Hon.  James  F.  Joy,  the  great  railroad  magnate  of  the  Northwest,  to 
whom  he  always  gives  the  entire  praise.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  people  of 
Michigan  will  always  remember  the  subject  of  this  sketch  as  one  of  her 
distinguished  characters  ;  and  the  people  of  the  town  of  St.  Joseph  and 
Berrien  county,  as  its  most  prominent,  widely  known  and  ambitious 
business  man,  who  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  has  maintained  a  spotless 
reputation  as  a  merchant  and  railroad  manager. 


HON.  JOHN   S.  HORNER. 

JOHN  SCOTT  HORNER  was  born  at  Warrenton,  Fouquier  county,  Vir 
ginia,  on  the  5th  day  of  December,  1802.  He  was  the  third  son  of  Dr. 
Gustavus  Brown  Homer,  assistant  surgeon,  and  nephew  of  Dr.  Gustavus 
Brown,  Surgeon-General  of  the  Revolutionary  Army.  His  ancestors 
were  English  and  resided  in  Yorkshire,  near  Kipon.  His  paternal  grand 
father  emigrated  to  the  State  of  Maryland  at  an  early  day,  and  went  into 


726  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

business  as  a  wholesale  importing  merchant.  He  was  a  near  relative  of 
Sir  Francis  Horner.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  graduated  in  1819  at 
Washington  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  practiced  law  in  Virginia  until 
September,  1835.  On  the  9th  day  of  that  month  he  was  appointed  by 
President  Jackson,  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor  of  the  Territory  of 
Michigan,  inclusive  of  the  Territories  of  Wisconsin  and  Iowa.  As  chief 
executive  of  the  Territory,  Governor  Horner  did  much  to  allay  the  hos 
tile  feeling  then  existing  between  the  people  of  the  Territory  and  of  the 
State  of  Ohio  in  reference  to  the  boundary  question.  Subsequently  he 
was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin,  and  received 
orders  from  President  Jackson  to  take  up  his  quarters  near  the  Missis 
sippi  river,  in  order  to  meet  the  apprehended  difficulty  between  the  Win- 
nebago  Indians  and  the  settlers  in  the  mineral  region  of  Wisconsin.  On 
his  arrival  he  learned  that  that  tribe  were  besieging  Fort  Winnebago. 
Taking  with  him  a  single  guide  he  made  a  perilous  journey  of  eighty 
miles  to  Fort  Crawford,  called  upon  General  Taylor  for  a  force  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty  men,  and  with  them  proceeded  to.  the  relief  of  Fort 
Winnebago.  Arriving  there  he  demanded  a  council  with  the  Indians, 
and  received  a  reply  from  the  chiefs  that  they  were  "falling  to  pieces" 
from  starvation,  owing  to  the  non-payment  of  the  annuities  due  from  the 
United  States.  Upon  learning  this  Governor  Horner  promptly  took  the 
responsibility  of  issuing  an  order  to  deliver  to  the  starving  Indians  one- 
half  the  pork  and  flour  in  the  military  stores  of  the  fort.  This  action 
prevented  an  Indian  war,  and  was  highly  approved  by  General  Jackson ; 
and  Congress  passed  an  act  granting  one  thousand  dollars  to  Governor 
Horner  as  a  recognition  of  his  services. 

As  secretary  of  the  Territory  of  Wisconsin,  his  career  was  distinguished 
by  ability  and  integrity,  and  he  received  many  evidences  of  the  confi 
dence  of  the  people  and  of  the  general  government.  After  his  retirement 
from  this  office,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Jackson  register  of  the 
Green  Bay  land  office,  and  by  successive  appointments  by  Presidents 
Van  Buren  and  Tyler,  held  the  position  for  thirteen  years.  He  has  also 
served  for  four  years  as  probate  judge  for  the  counties  of  Green  Lake 
and  Marquette,  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin. 

Governor  Horner  now  resides  in  the  beautiful  and  flourishing  city  of 
Ripon,  Wisconsin,  a  city  which  he  founded,  and  to  which  he  gave  its 
name,  in  compliment  to  the  home  of  his  ancestors  in  England. 

Early  in  life,  Gov.  Horner  distinguished  himself  by  his  advocacj7  of 
slave  emancipation,  and  the  records  of  the  Virginia  courts  show  many 
evidences  of  his  success  as  an  advocate  for  slaves  suing  for  their  freedom. 
This  sincerity  in  the  cause  was  proved  by  his  promptitude  in  freeing  the 
slaves  descended  to  him  from  his  father's  estate.  This  act  was  performed 
soon  after  his  coming  of  age — an  act  as  rare  as  it  wTas  commendable  at 
that  early  day. 


HISTORY   OF  MICHIGAN. 


727 


Gov.  Homer  is  still  in  the  enjoyment  of  vigorous  health,  the  result  of 
temperance  and  daily  active  exercise.  His  life  has  been  an  active  one, 
and  his  official  career  has  been  distinguished  by  ability  and  strict  integrity, 
and  in  his  dignified  retirement  he  enjoys  the  results  of  a  well-spent  life — 
health,  competence,  and  troops  of  friends. 


HON.  ALPHEUS  FELCH. 

ALPHEUS  FELCH  was  born  at  Limerick,  York  county,  Maine,  Septem 
ber  28,  1806;  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  adopted  the  law  as  a 
profession.  When  quite  young  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  was 
elected  in  1836  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  re-elected  in  1837.  In  1838 
he  was  appointed  Bank  Commissioner,  and  resigned  that  office  in  1839. 
For  a  short  time  in  1842  he  was  Auditor-General,  but  relinquished  that 
position  for  a  seat  on  the  Supreme  bench  of  the  State.  He  was  elected 
Governor  of  Michigan  in  1845,  and  resigned  in  1847  to  accept  a  seat  in  the 


728  GENERAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  STATES. 

United  States  Senate,  in  which  capacity  he  served  a  term  of  six  years. 
He  was  appointed  by  President  Pierce  one  of  the  commissioners  to  settle 
land  claims  in  California,  under  the  Act  of  Congress,  and  the  Treaty  of 
Guaclalupe  Hidalgo,  in  March,  1853.  The  business  of  this  Commission 
was  closed  by  disposing  of  all  the  cases  before  it  in  March,  1856.  In  1864 
he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  Convention.  Since  the  close  of  his 
official  career  Governor  Felch  has  lived  in  retirement  at  Ann  Arbor. 
His  official  career  has  been  marked  by  the  strictest  integrity,  and  he  has 
ever  enjoyed  the  entire  confidence  of  the  people  whom  he  has  so  long 
and  honorably  served. 


HON.  KINSLEY  S.  BINGHAM. 

KINSLEY  SCOTT  BINGHAM  was  born  in  Camillus,  Onondaga  county, 
N.  Y.,  December  16,  1808.  He  was  a  farmer's  son,  and  his  early  life  was 
spent  in  that  occupation.  He  received  a  good  academic  education  in  his 
native  State,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  Gen.  James  K.  Lawrence, 
now  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1833  he  married  an  estimable 
lady  recently  from  Scotland,  and  immediately  emigrated  to  Michigan 
and  purchased  a  new  farm,  in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Robert  Warden,  in  Green  Oak,  Livingston  county.  Here,  on  the  border 
of  civilization,  he  commenced  the  arduous  task  of  clearing  and  fencing  a 
new  farm,  putting  up  the  buildings  and  making  it  habitable,  and  bring- 


730  GENERAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   STATES. 

ing  it  to  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  He  held  the  offices  of  justice  of  the 
peace  and  postmaster  under  the  Territorial  Government,  and  was  the  first 
judge  of  probate  in  the  county.  In  the  year  1836  when  Michigan  became 
a  State,  he  was  elected  to  the  first  legislature.  He  was  four  times 
re-elected,  and  was  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives  three  years. 
In  1846  he  was  elected  Representative  in  Congress,  and  was  the  only 
practical  farmer  in  that  body.  He  did  many  things  in  the  interest  of  the 
farmers,  and  in  particular  he  opposed  and  prevented  the  extension  of 
Wood's  patent  cast  iron  plow.  He  was  re-elected  to  Congress  in  1848. 
He  strongly  opposed  the  extension  of  slavery  in  the  Territories  of  the 
United  States,  and  was  committed  and  voted  for  the  Wilmot  Proviso.  In 
1854,  at  the  first  organization  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  Governor  of  the  State.  In  1856  he  was  re-elected  Governor, 
and  during  his  administration  the  farming  interest  was  not  forgotten. 
Among  his  best  acts  he  recommended  and  assisted  in  establishing  the 
Agricultural  College  at  Lansing.  In  1859  he  was  elected  Senator  in  Con 
gress.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  stormy  campaign  in  the  election  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  and  witnessed  the  inauguration  of  the  rebellion.  On 
the  5th  of  October,  1861,  he  was  attacked  with  apoplexy,  and  died  sud 
denly  at  his  residence  in  Green  Oak. 


HON.  STEVENS  T.  MASON. 

STEVENS  THOMPSON  MASON  was  a  son  of  General  John  T.  Mason,  of 
Kentucky,  but  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1812.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
was  appointed  Secretary  of  Michigan  Territory,  and  served  in  that  capa 
city  during  the  administration  of  Governor  George  B.  Porter.  Upon  the 
death  of  Governor  Porter,  which  occurred  on  the  6th  of  July,  1834,  Mr. 
Mason  became  acting  governor.  In  October,  1835,  he  was  elected  gov 
ernor  under  the  State  organization,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the 
performance  of  the  duties  of  the  office,  although  the  State  was  not  yet 
admitted  into  the  Union.  After  the  State  was  admitted  into  the  Union, 
Governor  Mason  was  reflected  to  the  position,  and  served  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  State.  He  died  January  4th,  1843. 


RESIDENCE  OF  J.  W.  FRISBIE. 


FOLLOWING  are  six  engravings — views  of  the  magnificent  residence 
of  Mr.  James  W.  Frisbie,  of  Detroit.  It  is  located  on  Cass  avenue,  one 
of  the  most  popular  and  aristocratic  thoroughfares  in  the  city,  and  occu 
pies  nearly  the  entire  square  bounded  by  Cass  avenue  on  the  east,  Bagg 
street  on  the  north  and  Ledyard  street  on  the  south.  A  brief  description 
of  this  elegant  residence  will,  no  doubt,  be  interesting  to  the  reader. 


FRONT  VIEW  FROM  CASS  AVENUE. 

As  the  visitor  enters  the  broad  gates  from  Cass  avenue,  a  magnificent 
scene  is  laid  out  to  view.  Its  richness,  however,  varies  according  to  the 
season.  In  spring,  or  early  summer,  it  gives  one  the  impression  that 
nature  had  collected  her  rarest  beauties  and  concentrated  her  most  deli 
cate  fragrance  on  this  spot.  The  scene  is  not  more  ennobling  in  its  store 
of  nature's  rich  attire  than  imposing  as  a  real  work  of  true  art.  On  the 
right  is  a  triangle  of  three  Norway  spruce  trees,  about  twelve  feet  high. 


RESIDENCE    OF    J.    W.    FRISBIE. 


733 


This  is  converted  into  a  pyramid  by  a  tall  balsam  rising  from  its  base  to 
a  height  of  fifteen  feet,  overlooking  the  whole  from  the  corner.  On  the 
left  this  view  is  repeated  as  perfect  as  though  it  were  reflected  by  a  mir 
ror.  The  trees  are  of  the  same  kind,  stand  exactly  in  corresponding 
places,  have  been  allowed  to  grow  to  the  same  height  and  no  higher,  and 
are  trimmed  so  as  to  present  precisely  the  same  appearance.  There  is 
also  on  either  side  of  the  walk  a  drooping  mountain  ash.  These  two  ar« 


VIEW  OF  FRONT  GARDEN. 

the  same  in  appearance,  each  exciting  the  curiosity  of  the  visitor.  Near 
these  on  either  side  of  the  walk  is  a  weeping  willow  about  six  feet  high, 
trimmed  and  developed  into  a  perfect  umbrella.  These  are  as  near  alike 
as  is  possible,  and  complete  the  similarity  of  the  grounds  and  trees  on  one 
side  of  the  front  walk  with  those  on  the  other. 

As  the  visitor  advances  from  the  front  gate  toward  the  residence,  the 
walk  divides  itself  into  three  directions,  one  leading  to  the  front  door, 


734 


RESIDENCE    OF   J.    W.    FRISBIE. 


another  around  the  north  side  of  the  residence,  a  third  around  the  south 
side,  meeting  the  last  named  in  the  rear  and  connecting  in  its  course  with 
the  grand  northern  winding  walk  leading  through  the  hedge  to  the  sum 
mer  house. 

At  the  intersection  of  these  walks  the  visitor  has  one  of  the  grandest 
views  of  garden  landscape  in  America.  The  scene  is  perfectly  indescrib 
able,  and  the  eye  of  the  beholder  is  lost  in  wonder  and  admiration  as  the 
handiwork  of  nature  and  triumphs  of  art  blend  together  in  harmony  in 


VIEW  OF  RESIDENCE  AND  GROUNDS. 

every  feature  presented.  From  the  tallest  balsam,  Norway  spruce  or 
pine,  to  the  most  delicate  foliage  of  the  tinted  rose  is  constantly  visible 
marks  of  artful  man;  a  drooping  branch  on  the  one  side  has  its  counter 
part  on  the  other.  The  great  vase  on  the  right,  whose  flower-laden  vines 
stream  down  on  either  side,  covering  the  massive  base  with  the  profusion 
of  nature's  delicacy,  has  its  grand  rival  and  perfect  duplicate  in  a  corres 
ponding  place  on  the  left;  the  fragrance-breathing  mound  that  lies  like  a 
bright  painting  on  the  canvas  of  earth,  ever  greeting  the  eye  with  new 


RESIDENCE    OF    J.    W.    FRISBIE. 


735 


beauties  that  magnify  among  the  rich  foliage  of  a  thousand  brilliant 
shades  and  colors,  is  repeated  again  with  a  skill  that  has  compelled 
nature  to  duplicate  her  rarest  charms;  the  Michigan  prairie  rose  vines 
that  rise  from  the  soft  grass  ascend  to  meet  and  intertwine  their  rich  and 
heavy  flower  wreaths  in  arched  magnificence  over  the  front  windows  of 
the  residence,  while  the  quaint  beauty  of  the  Indian  maiden  hair  tree 


VIEW  THROUGH  ARBOR  AND  SUMMER  HOUSE  TO  RESIDENCE. 

adds  wonder  to  the  scene  by  interweaving  its  strange  branches.  But  as 
if  to  constitute  ail  these  wreaths  and  arches  a  back-ground  to  the  great 
picture  before  the  visitor,  a  magnificent  vase  of  many  kinds  of  flowers 
has  been  placed  on  either  side  of  the  entrance,  just  near  enough  to  the 
elevation  to  produce  the  richest  effect. 


)  LANSING  HOUSE. 

THIS  extensive  and  popular  hotel  is  justly  the  pride  of  the  capitol  city. 
The  building  ^vas  erected  at  a  cost  of  $85,000,  and  is  one  of  the  finest 
structures  in  Lansing.  It  is  located  on  Washington  avenue,  opposite  the 
old  State  house.  The  proprietor,  Mr.  M.  Hudson,  is  one  of  the  most 
genial  and  accomplished  of  hosts.  During  the  sessions  of  the  legislature, 
this  hotel  is  the  center  of  fashionable  society  in  Lansing.  Its  large  par 
lors  and  ball  rooms  present  an  elegant  appearance,  and  the  building  is  in 
every  way  arranged  for  a  first-class  hotel. 
47 


CENTRAL  DRUG  STORE,  DETROIT. 

THIS  elegant  establishment  occupies  a  large  part  of  the  ground  floor  of 
the  Fisher  Block.  It  forms  in  its  obtuse  angle  one  of  the  most  prominent 
corners  on  Campus  Martius.  The  front  of  this  store  presents  a^splendid 
appearance.  A  prismatic  glass  morter,  once  the  property  of  H.  T.  Helm- 
bold,  of  Broadway,  New  York,  and  sixteen  large  colored  show  globes, 
illuminate  the  square,  making  an  attractive  display. 

Messrs.  Prittie  &  Buffuin,  proprietors  of  the  Central  Drug  Store,  are 
gentlemen  of  reputed  standing.  Dr.  W.  H.  Prittie  is  a  graduate  of 
Harvard  College,  and  has  been  favorably  known  in  Boston  for  several 
years  as  a  reliable  and  competent  apothecary,  and  also,  in  Jersey  City,  as 
a  practicing  physician.  He  removed  from  the  latter  place  to  purchase 
the  Central  Drug  Store,  and  to  settle  in  Detroit.  Mr.  J.  J.  Buffum,  his 
partner,  has  been  favorably  known  in  this  State  as  a  prominent  merchant 
during  the  last  twenty-two  years. 


MICHIGAN   EXCHANGE. 

Tins  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  celebrated  hotels  in  Detroit.  It  was 
erected  in  1834-5,  but  has,  at  different  times,  been  enlarged.  )  To-day  it 
occupies  nearly  an  entire  square,  with  a  frontage  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  feet  on  Jefferson  avenue.  It  is  two  hundred  feet  deep/ extending 
from  Jefferson  avenue  to  Woodbridge  street,  and  being  six  stories  high 
on  the  latter  street  and  four  on  the  former.  This  extensive  and  popular 
hotel  is  conducted  by  Mr.  Edward  Lyon,  who  has  been  connected  with 
the  Michigan  Exchange  for  several  years.  He  came  to  this  State  in 
1836.  After  remaining  in  Detroit  a  few  months,  he  removed  to  the  site 
of  the  present  town  of  Lyons,  which  was  then  a  wilderness.  After 
founding  a  settlement  there,  he  returned  to  Detroit,  in  1840;  and  has 
since  been  prominently  connected  with  the  two  leading  hotels  of  the  city 
— formerly  the  Russell  House,  and  at  present  the  Michigan  Exchange,  of 
which  the  foregoing  engraving  is  a  good  illustration. 

FERRY  &  CO/S  SEED  STORE 

THE  seed  establishment  of  D.  M.  Ferry  &  Co.  is  one  of  the  most  exten 
sive  wholesale  establishments  in  the  State,  and  it  is  the  largest  of  the  kind 
in  the  whole  Northwest. 

This  enterprising  firm  furnishes  constant  employment  to  several  hun 
dred  persons,  and  their  trade  extends  over  the  whole  Union,  but  is  mainly 
confined  to  the  Middle,  Southern  and  Western  States.  r* 

The  reputation  of  the  house  is  an  enviable  one,  and  the  goods  they 
send  out  need  no  recommendation. 

This  immense  establishment  has  risen  to  its  present  prominence  within 
the  last  sixteen  years,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Ferry,  whose  name 
is  at  the  head  of  the  firm.  His  wealth,  acquired  mainly,  during  that 
period,  is  variously  estimated  at  from  five  hundred  thousand  to  a  million 
dollars.  It  is  unquestionably  in  advance  of  the  former  figure. 

There  is  something  really  cheering  in  these  figures;  not  so  much,  how 
ever,  because  an  enterprising  individual  has  thus  quickly  acquired  a 
fortune,  but  because  they  indicate  the  prosperity  of  the  Peninsular  State, 
and  constitute  a  part  of  that  data  which  renders  it  a  pleasing  and  an 
enviable  task  to  compare  the  history  of  Michigan's  commerce  with  that 
of  the  surrounding  and  competing  States. 


^gi] 


( 


THE  SIMEONS  &  CLOUGH   ORGANS. 

AMONG  the  great  industries  of  Michigan,  the  organ  factory  is  a  pleasing 
feature,  especially  since  it  indicates  the  equal  growth  of  all  the  interests 
necessary  to  the  development  of  a  grand  and  prosperous  State.  "  Of  the 
many  large  manufacturing  establishments  which  are  making  Detroit 
known  throughout  the  country  as  a  manufacturing  city,"  says  the  Detroit 
Tribune,  "the  Simmons  &Clough  Organ  Company  are  doing  their  share, 
inasmuch  as  their  justly  celebrated  instruments  are  being  shipped  every 
week  into  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific." 
On  the  first  of  Januar}^  1872,  the  Simmons  &  Clough  Organ  Company 
was  organized,  with  a  capital  of  $ 50,000,  taking  the  business  of  Messrs. 
Simmons  &  Clough,  which  firm  began  the  business  of  making  organs 
some  six  for  seven  years  ago  in  Detroit.  The  new  company  purchased  a 
lot  120x138  feet,  and  erected  a  five-story  brick  factory,  on  the  corner  of 
Sixth  and  Congress  streets.  The  original  building  was  completed  and 
occupied  on  the  1st  of  June,  1872.  The  business  of  the  concern  increased 
so  rapidly  that  it  was  necessary  to  increase  the  size  of  the  building,  which 
has  recently  been  done.  The  factory  has  now  a  frontage  of  120  feet  on 
Sixth  street  by  138  feet  on  Congress  street.  The  new  addition  on  Con- 
gress  street  is  six  stories  high.  We  present  an  engraving  of  the  factory, 
showing  the  growth  of  the  establishment  in  the  short  space  of  two  years. 


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